Jose Marti and the Emigre Colony in Key West: Leadership and State Formation

This penetrating study of political leadership and state formation centers on the Cuban leader Jose Marti (1853-1895) and his relationship with Key West, Florida, the major Cuban emigre colony of the time. The first book to explore specifically Marti's leadership qualities and style of leadership, it will be of significant interest to political scientists and students interested in the ways in which potential leaders react to the circumstances encountered and challenges faced in their quest for leadership. Ronning explains how Marti actively sought leadership of the Cuban struggle for independence, effectively applying his personal qualities to meet the needs and desires of his community of emigres in Key West. But, Ronning shows, Marti never lost sight of what he perceived as higher humanitarian and humanistic goals for a truly just republic, believing that the process of state formation must coincide with the struggle for independence itself. Ronning begins with both a synopsis of major events in Marti's life before his first visit to Key West and an analysis of the social needs of the Cuban emigre community in Key West at that time. The bulk of the study concentrates on the period of three years when Marti made several historic visits to Key West and is based upon in-depth examination of the voluminous correspondence between Marti and dozens of Key West residents in all social categories as well as Marti's own newspaper Patria, which provided another avenue of communication with the emigre community. Analyzing these sources in light of specific events and challenges in Marti's short career as a leader, Ronning shows how Marti used the island of Key West and its emigre community as a psychic focus for the liberation of Cuba itself. The final chapter offers a synthesis of Marti's various techniques, skills, and qualities as well as Key West's response to his efforts.

Table of Contents:
Introduction The Odyssey of Martí Cuban Key West The Triumphant Arrival of Martí The Transfer of Leadership: I The Transfer of Leadership: II The Military-Intelligence Question Unauthorized Uprisings Depression and Party Finances A Style of Leadership Appendix: Documentary Survey Bibliography Index

About the Author :
C. NEALE RONNING is Professor of Political Science at the Graduate Faculty at the New School for Social Research. His eight previous books include Ambassadors in Foreign Policy (Praeger, 1987).

Review :
?Jose Marti was the Cuban revolutionary leader par excellence, and Key West was where he first demonstrated those superb qualities that were later to enshrine his name in history. But this short, superficial, largely descriptive study fails to capture the soaring elegance of language, the powerful, charismatic presence, and the burning passion of one of the fiercest orators of all time. Nor does it capture the complex flavor of the immigrant community in Key West. (Contrast, for example, the excellent way Gerald Poyo does this in With All, and for the Good of All). Yet, Ronning's book is not without some merit. It strongly suggests that Key West was crucial both to the leadership of Marti in the revolutionary movement as well as to the importance of that exile community in the domestic politics of Cuba at the end of the 19th century. It also emphasizes the political astuteness of Marti as well as his total dedication to the cause. General and undergraduate readers.?-Choice ?This book will appeal especially to two groups of readers: those interested in the history of the Cuban revolution and Jose Marti, and those interested in the Cuban colonies of Key West and Tampa in the later nineteenth century. . . . The author gives us a succinct and valuable biography of Marti and situates him in the context of the continual struggle for Cuban independence. . . . The appendix, Documentary Highlights, ' is especially useful. . . . The book is essential for any library or scholar specializing in any of the areas mentioned above.?-Hispanic American Historical Review "This book will appeal especially to two groups of readers: those interested in the history of the Cuban revolution and Jose Marti, and those interested in the Cuban colonies of Key West and Tampa in the later nineteenth century. . . . The author gives us a succinct and valuable biography of Marti and situates him in the context of the continual struggle for Cuban independence. . . . The appendix, Documentary Highlights, ' is especially useful. . . . The book is essential for any library or scholar specializing in any of the areas mentioned above."-Hispanic American Historical Review "Jose Marti was the Cuban revolutionary leader par excellence, and Key West was where he first demonstrated those superb qualities that were later to enshrine his name in history. But this short, superficial, largely descriptive study fails to capture the soaring elegance of language, the powerful, charismatic presence, and the burning passion of one of the fiercest orators of all time. Nor does it capture the complex flavor of the immigrant community in Key West. (Contrast, for example, the excellent way Gerald Poyo does this in With All, and for the Good of All). Yet, Ronning's book is not without some merit. It strongly suggests that Key West was crucial both to the leadership of Marti in the revolutionary movement as well as to the importance of that exile community in the domestic politics of Cuba at the end of the 19th century. It also emphasizes the political astuteness of Marti as well as his total dedication to the cause. General and undergraduate readers."-Choice