Easy to take advantage of individualists in a cooperative based economy than a collectivized one.

Idk about that on it's face. The Cuban people have endured a hellish onslaught of violence and oppression from abroad. They wouldn't have endured without a high degree of cooperation and comraderie.

By contrast, the Eastern European economy underwent full collectivization without a strong fraternal foundation. Their residents were ripe for divide-and-conqueror when the Iron Curtain fell.

This isn't an either-or issue. You need both enthusiastic participation AND organized collective ownership to achieve a lasting Socialist state.