1 May and Anarchism in Cuba: Transnational Connections, National Issues1

This article reflects on the significance of the celebration of 1 May in Cuba. From a transnational perspective, the national issues of the island are linked to the use of the internationalist ideals and practices of anarchists to show how the anniversary contributed to the growth of anarchism, but at the same time its commemoration was mediated by the Cuban political reality. Two stages of this development are distinguished, divided by Cuba’s last war of independence (1895–8), which helps to better show how the Cuban context influenced the anarchist experience and especially the commemoration of Workers’ Day.