 In an effort to eliminate social inequalities , Guevara and Cuba 's new leadership had moved to swiftly transform the political and economic base of the country through nationalizing factories , banks , and businesses , while attempting to ensure affordable housing , healthcare , and employment for all Cubans . However , in order for a genuine transformation of consciousness to take root , Guevara believed that such structural changes would have to be accompanied by a conversion in people 's social relations and values . Believing that the attitudes in Cuba towards race , women , individualism , and manual labor were the product of the island 's outdated past , Guevara urged all individuals to view each other as equals and take on the values of what he termed " el Hombre Nuevo " ( the New Man ) . Guevara hoped his " new man " would ultimately be " selfless and cooperative , obedient and hard working , gender @-@ blind , incorruptible , non @-@ materialistic , and anti @-@ imperialist . " To accomplish this , Guevara emphasized the tenets of Marxism @-@ Leninism , and wanted to use the state to emphasize qualities such as egalitarianism and self @-@ sacrifice , at the same time as " unity , equality , and freedom " became the new maxims . Guevara 's first desired economic goal of the new man , which coincided with his aversion for wealth condensation and economic inequality , was to see a nationwide elimination of material incentives in favor of moral ones . He negatively viewed capitalism as a " contest among wolves " where " one can only win at the cost of others " and thus desired to see the creation of a " new man and woman " . Guevara continually stressed that a socialist economy in itself is not " worth the effort , sacrifice , and risks of war and destruction " if it ends up encouraging " greed and individual ambition at the expense of collective spirit " . A primary goal of Guevara 's thus became to reform " individual consciousness " and values to produce better workers and citizens . In his view , Cuba 's " new man " would be able to overcome the " egotism " and " selfishness " that he loathed and discerned was uniquely characteristic of individuals in capitalist societies . To promote this concept of a " new man " , the government also created a series of party @-@ dominated institutions and mechanisms on all levels of society , which included organizations such as labor groups , youth leagues , women 's groups , community centers , and houses of culture to promote state @-@ sponsored art , music , and literature . In congruence with this , all educational , mass media , and artistic community based facilities were nationalized and utilized to instill the government 's official socialist ideology . In describing this new method of " development " , Guevara stated : 
