Not an expert but my understanding is that it ' s not as black and white as some would make it out to be . He was a dictator for decades so advocates of democracy are very critical of him for that . He would probably argue that Cuba needed a strong idealistic leader in order to stand up to the US and stick to the Communist philosophy that fueled his revolution . Cuba has contributed positive things to central and southern America , but the cost to the Cuban people has been high . For example , they have higher literacy rates and a lower infant mortality rate than even the US . They spearheaded literacy programs in the surrounding region and sent doctors and medicine to countries that were underserved . Virtually anyone can go to med school in Cuba , even Americans , and they have some of the best docors in the world . At the same time , Castro has ruled with an iron fist . They jail dissidents and censor media . The public has limited access to the internet , things like that . It ' s the sort of thing that sounds great to young idealists in college , but when you actually think about what life must be like there it loses its appeal . But you gotta give them credit for looking out for the other poor nations , I think . Good deeds count for something , even if they come at a price .