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Cuban Socialism in a New Century: Adversity, Survival, and Renewal
Overview
"Serious, critical observations of life on the island. . . . It is clear that most of this group of Canadian and U.S. writers have spent time inside Cuban society, paid close attention to internal Cuban politics, or have studied seriously the ever-problematic twists and turns of U.S.-Cuban relations."--Eloise Linger, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury
In this collection, international social science experts on Cuba examine the island's main challenges and strengths at the dawn of the 21st century. Their essays offer a picture of a nation recovering from a period of severe economic adversity and diminished social status, yet keenly aware that hard work lies ahead.
Exploring issues in relation to all aspects of society, this book brings together research from the entire decade since the end of the Cold War and includes the views of official insiders as well as academic scholars. The authors address topics that range from problems of everyday life to matters of general social and cultural change. Though still in distress, Cuba today has left behind the worst years, they conclude. Havana is moving forward through a complex renewal process, remaking some of the dated features of its political, economic, and social system.
The book examines such critical subjects as migration, the rebirth of religious institutions, women and gender issues, demographic trends, the changing role of the Cuban Communist Party, social and cultural changes under the current Special Period in Peacetime, and newly adopted policies and objectives in international relations and economic recovery policies. It also addresses the military, presidential succession, new electioneering modalities, and the National Assembly of People's Power. It explores new approaches to foreign policy in light of the island's major long-term struggles--a driving desire for economic and political change and the ongoing conflict with hostile U.S. administrations.
Demonstrating how a determined nation can chart its own destiny, this work clarifies and corrects generally held but mistaken assumptions about the tropical island. Both sympathetic and balanced, it offers an informed approach to understanding the complexities of contemporary Cuba. It will be invaluable both to policy makers and to students of Cuban and Latin American affairs.
Contents
Part I. Introduction
1. Cuban Socialism in the Twenty-first Century, by Max Azicri
Part II. Society
2. From Capitalist to Socialist Culture, and Back to Capitalist Values? by Jose A. Moreno
3. The Continuing Revolution, by Jean Weisman
4. Women's Daily Lives in a New Century, by Norma Vasallo Barrueta
5. Demographic Transition and Population Policy, by Sonia I. Catasus Cervera
Part III. Religion
6. The Church of the Past and the Church of the Future, by Margaret E. Crahan
Part IV. Economy
7. The Road to Economic Recovery, by Jose Luis Rodriguez Garcia
8. Measuring Economic Performance: Strong and Weak Prospects, by Andrew Zimbalist
Part V. Politics
9. The "Single Party of the Cuban Nation" Faces the Future, by William M. LeoGrande
10. The National Assembly and Political Representation, by Peter Roman
11. Socialism and Elections, by Arnold August
12. Presidential Succession: Legal and Political Contexts and Domestic Players, by Nelson P. Valdes
Part VI. The Military
13. The Armed Forces Today and Tomorrow, by Hal Klepak
Part VII. Migration to the United States
14. Migrating to the United States: Evolution, Change, and Continuity, by Felix Masud-Piloto
Part VIII. International Relations
15. Policy Changes and New Objectives in World Relations, by H. Michael Erisman
16. The Cuba-U.S. Conflict in a New Century, by Esteban Morales Dominguez
Max Azicri is professor of political science at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Elsie Deal is professor emerita of English at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. |
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