Supporters, on the other hand, see Castro as a charismatic leader whose presidential authority has been acquired through legitimate elections.
Outside Cuba, Castro has been defined by his relationship with the United States and the former USSR, both of whom courted Cuban attentions as part of their own global political agenda.
Castro was always sympathetic to Third World countries and issues. The iconic leader had enjoyed a special relationship with ex-Palestine leader Yasser Arafat.
However, in recent years, Castro has found new regional allies in Latin America. Regional Socialist and nationalist figures such as Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Evo Morales in Bolivia have been ready allies.
At home, Fidel Castro has overseen the implementation of various economic policies, leading to the rapid centralisation of Cuba's economy, land reform, collectivisation and mechanization of agriculture, and the expropriation of leading Cuban industries.
The expansion of publicly funded health care and education has been a cornerstone of Castro's domestic political programme. Cuba ranks better than many countries on the United Nations' list of countries by infant mortality rate, which is claimed by Castro's supporters as a success of his government.
Image: Castro and the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, during the latter's visit to Cuba in 1974. When Arafat died in 2004, Castro described it as a major blow to the progressive movement worldwide.
Photographs: Str/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: How dictators live and die
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