Question

Cuba is an example of a one‑party socialist (communist) state — officially a Marxist–Leninist, single‑party republic governed by the Communist Party of Cuba.

meaning

Answer 1

Briefly: the sentence says that Cuba’s government is organized so that one political party — the Communist Party of Cuba — is constitutionally recognized as the country’s leading and only effective governing force, and that the state’s official ideology is Marxism–Leninism (a form of socialism/communism).

More detail:
- One‑party state / single‑party republic: political power is monopolized by one party. Other parties exist little or not at all in practice, and there is no competitive multi‑party system where rival parties regularly win control of government.
- Socialist (communist) state: the state declares its aim is to build a socialist/communist society, which typically involves a strong public sector, state planning or heavy regulation of the economy, and policies intended to reduce capitalist private ownership (though the degree of state control varies over time).
- Marxism–Leninism: the official ideology combining Marx’s ideas about class, capitalism and socialism with Lenin’s doctrine that a disciplined, centralized “vanguard” party leads the revolutionary transition and the state.
- Governed by the Communist Party of Cuba: in practice the party sets major policies, appoints officials, and plays the central role in political decision‑making. The constitution enshrines the party’s leading role.

In short: Cuba officially bases its political system on centralized, party‑led socialist rule rather than on competitive multiparty liberal democracy.