A Contemporary Cuba Reader: Reinventing the Revolution / Edition 1

by Philip Brenner, Marguerite Rose Jimenez, John M. Kirk, William M. LeoGrande

Overview

A second edition of this book is now available.

Cuba has undergone dramatic changes since the collapse of European communism. The loss of economic aid and preferential trade with the Soviet Union and other Eastern bloc countries forced the Cuban government to search out new ways of organizing the domestic economy and new commercial relations in an international system dominated by market economies. The resulting economic reforms have reverberated through Cuban society and politics, recreating social inequalities unknown since the 1950s and confronting the political system with unprecedented new challenges. The resulting ferment is increasingly evident in Cuban cultural expression, and the responses to adversity and scarcity have reshaped Cuban social relations.

This anthology brings together the best recent scholarship and writing on Cuban politics, economics, foreign relations, society, and culture in the post-Soviet era, which Cubans call the "Special Period." Ideally suited for students and general readers seeking to understand contemporary Cuba, the book includes a substantive introduction setting the historical context, as well as part introductions and a chronology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742555075
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/04/2007
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 10.07(h) x 0.66(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Philip Brenner is professor of international relations and director of the Inter-Disciplinary Council on Latin America at American University. Marguerite Rose Jiménez is a graduate student in the School of International Service at American University. John M. Kirk is professor of Latin American studies at Dalhousie University. William M. LeoGrande is dean of the School of Public Affairs and professor of government at American University.

Table of Contents

Introduction: History as Prologue: Cuba before the Special Period
Part I: Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution
Chapter 1: The Revolutionary and Political Content of Fidel Castro's Charismatic Authority
Chapter 2: July 26. History Absolved Him. Now What?
Part II: Politics
Chapter 3: "The Cuban Nation's Single Party": The Communist Party of Cuba Faces the Future
Chapter 4: Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces: Last Bulwark of the State! Last Bulwark of the Revolution?
Chapter 5: On Cuban Democracy: Cuba and the Democratic Culture
Chapter 6: Successes and Failures of a Decentralizing Experience: Cuba's Local Governments
Chapter 7: Society, Civil Society, and the State: An Uneasy Three-Way Affair
Chapter 8: Miami Herald Cuba Poll: The Findings and How Cubans Responded to Questions
Chapter 9: Cuba's Catholic Dissident: The Saga of 'swaldo Payá
Part III: Economics
Chapter 10: Development as an Unfinished Affair: Cuba after the "Great Adjustment" of the 1990s
Chapter 11: The Cuban Economy: Amid Economic Stagnation and Reversal of Reforms
Chapter 12: Cutting Losses: Cuba Downsizes Its Sugar Industry
Chapter 13: The Political Economy of Leisure
Chapter 14: Going against the Grain: Agricultural Crisis and Transformation
Chapter 15: Vale Todo: In Cuba's Paladares, Everything Is Prohibited but Anything Goes
Chapter 16: Dollarization and Its Discontents: Remittances and Cuba's Remaking in the Post-Soviet Era
Part IV: Foreign Policy
Chapter 17: Neoliberalism, Global Inequality, and Irreparable Destruction of Our Natural Habitat: Message to the 11th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Chapter 18: Cuba and the Pax Americana
Chapter 19: Cuba's Counter-Hegemonic Strategy
Chapter 20: Like Sisyphus' Stone: U.S.-Cuban Relations in the Aftermath of September 11, 2001
Chapter 21: Advancing the Day When Cuba Will Be Free
Chapter 22: Fidel's Final Victory
Chapter 23: Wanted: A Logical Cuba Policy
Chapter 24: The Cuban Five and the U.S. War against Terror
Chapter 25: The European Union's Perception of Cuba: From Frustration to Irritation
Chapter 26: Sleeping with an Elephant
Chapter 27: Cuban Americans and Their Transnational Ties
Part V: Society
Chapter 28: In the Shadow of Plenty, Cuba Copes with a Crippled Health Care System
Chapter 29: Social Impact of the Economic Measures
Chapter 30: Cuban Youth: Aspirations, Social Perceptions, and Identity
Chapter 31: The Cuban Education System: Lessons and Dilemmas
Chapter 32: Early Childhood Education in Revolutionary Cuba during the Special Period
Chapter 33: Heroines of the Special Period
Chapter 34: The Status of Cuban Women: From Economically Dependent to Independent
Chapter 35: Recreating Racism: Race and Discrimination in Cuba's Special Period
Chapter 36: The Status of Gays in Cuba: Myth and Reality
Chapter 37: Civil Society and Religion in Cuba: Past, Present, and Future
Chapter 38: There Is No Homeland without Virtue
Part VI: Culture
Chapter 39: A Black Woman from Cuba, That's All: An Interview with Nancy Morejón
Chapter 40: Living and Creating in Cuba: Risks and Challenges
Chapter 41: Visions of Dollars Dance before Cuban Artists' Eyes
Chapter 42: Ballet: Split with Cuba Still Brings Pain
Chapter 43: Cuban Cinema
Chapter 44: Two Songs
Chapter 45: From the Heart of Cuba, a Love Song for the Crescent City
Chapter 46: Rap and Revolution: Hip-Hop Comes to Cuba
Chapter 47: Home-Grown Virtuosos
Chapter 48: The Dual Role of Sports
Chapter 49: The Cuban Media

What People are Saying About This

James Dunkerley

This is a wonderful resource for the study, discussion, and understanding of the contemporary history of Cuba. Delving into often-ignored areas of daily and institutional experience, and opening with an admirably lucid introduction, this text will become an indispensable tool for the teaching of contemporary Cuba in the English-speaking world.

Cynthia McClintock

This book is outstanding in both the breadth and depth of its coverage of Cuba today. The forty-nine contributions span the gamut of Cuban politics, economics, foreign policy, social transformation, and culture. The coeditors are to be applauded for an engaging volume that will stand the test of time.

Editorial Reviews

This amalgamation of Cuban politics, economics, foreign policy, social issues and culture leaves even the experienced cubanologist feeling that she or he has been on an essential crash course to understand contemporary Cuba. . . . I congratulate the editors and contributors for producing an informative, well-organized and timely book.

International Journal Of Cuban Studies

With chapters written by an international who’s who of specialists in contemporary Cuban politics, international relations, economics, culture, and society—all framed by an uncommonly useful introduction—A Contemporary Cuba Reader is among those few edited volumes that should be on every Latin Americanist’s bookshelf. Highly recommended.

LARs Schoultz

This is a wonderful resource for the study, discussion, and understanding of the contemporary history of Cuba. Delving into often-ignored areas of daily and institutional experience, and opening with an admirably lucid introduction, this text will become an indispensable tool for the teaching of contemporary Cuba in the English-speaking world.

James Dunkerley

This book is outstanding in both the breadth and depth of its coverage of Cuba today. The forty-nine contributions span the gamut of Cuban politics, economics, foreign policy, social transformation, and culture. The coeditors are to be applauded for an engaging volume that will stand the test of time.

Cynthia McClintock

This amalgamation of Cuban politics, economics, foreign policy, social issues and culture leaves even the experienced cubanologist feeling that she or he has been on an essential crash course to understand contemporary Cuba. . . . I congratulate the editors and contributors for producing an informative, well-organised and timely book.

October 2008 International Journal Of Cuban Studies

With chapters written by an international who’s who of specialists in contemporary Cuban politics, international relations, economics, culture, and society—all framed by an uncommonly useful introduction—A Contemporary Cuba Reader is among those few edited volumes that should be on every Latin Americanist’s bookshelf. Highly recommended.

Lars Schoultz

This comprehensive and impressive anthology traces the extraordinary transition process that took place during what Fidel Castro dubbed Cuba's 'Special Period.' . . . The stated goal of the editors is to provide undergraduates with a resource that brings together the best of Cuban scholarship, and they have certainly done that. . . . There remains so much in this book that is relevant, worthwhile, and informative that it may be recommended to all students of contemporary Cuba and as an excellent core reader for any course on the same topic.

Journal of Latin American Studies

[This] is an absolute must for anyone interested in exploring another dimension of Cuban culture.

Bulletin of Latin American Research

[An] excellent anthology. . . . These articles by various scholars examine the role of the Communist Party and the armed forces, agricultural transformation, the emergence of class divisions in the 'dollar economy,' cultural changes and various aspects of Cuban foreign policy. For readers who hope to understand contemporary Cuba and our relationship with her government and people, these essays will be highly informative.

Booklist

The 49 contributions to this outstanding anthology trace continuity and change during Cuba's 'special period' (1986–2006) in the country's foreign policy, domestic economics and politics, social values, culture, and media.

Foreign Affairs

This comprehensive and impressive anthology traces the extraordinary transition process that took place during what Fidel Castro dubbed Cuba's 'Special Period.' . . . The stated goal of the editors is to provide undergraduates with a resource that brings together the best of Cuban scholarship, and they have certainly done that. . . . There remains so much in this book that is relevant, worthwhile, and informative that it may be recommended to all students of contemporary Cuba and as an excellent core reader for any course on the same topic.

Journal Of Latin American Studies