A Contemporary Cuba Reader : The Revolution Under Raul Castro

by Philip Brenner (Editor), Marguerite Rose Jimenez (Editor), John M. Kirk (Editor), William M. (E Leogrande

Overview

This completely revised and updated edition focuses on Cuba since Raúl Castro took over the country’s leadership in 2006. A Contemporary Cuba Reader brings together the best recent scholarship and writing on Cuban politics, economics, foreign relations, society, and culture in present-day Cuba. Ideally suited for students and general readers seeking to understand this still-contentious and controversial island, the book includes a substantive introduction setting the historical context, as well as part introductions and a chronology. Supplementary resources for students and professors are available on the R&L website.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442230989
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/08/2014
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	488
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Philip Brenner is professor of international relations at American University. Marguerite Rose Jiménez is a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Public Affairs at American University. John M. Kirk is professor of Latin American studies at Dalhousie University. William M. LeoGrande is professor of government at American University.

Table of Contents

Introduction: History as Prologue, Cuba Before 2006, Philip Brenner, Marguerite Rose Jiménez, John M. Kirk, and William M. LeoGrande Part I: Politics Chapter 1: Continuity and Change in Cuba at Fifty: The Revolution at a Crossroads, Carlos Alzugaray Treto Chapter 2: Cuba’s New Socialism: Different Visions Shaping Current Changes, Camila Piñeiro Harnecker Chapter 3: After Fidel: The Cuban Communist Party on the Brink of Generational Change, William M. LeoGrande Chapter 4: The Revolutionary Armed Forces: Loyalty and Efficiency in the Face of Old and New Challenges, Hal Klepak Chapter 5: The Collapse of Socialism Is beyond the Present Horizon, Rafael Hernández, Interviewed by Edmundo García Chapter 6: Religion and Civil Society in Cuba, 1959–2013, Margaret E. Crahan Chapter 7: From Cyberspace to Public Space?: The Emergent Blogosphere and Cuban Civil Society, Ted A. Henken and Sjamme van de Voort Chapter 8: The Promise Besieged: Participation and Autonomy in Cuba, Armando Chaguaceda Part II: Economics Chapter 9: Challenges of Economic Restructuring in Cuba, Jorge Mario Sánchez Egozcue Chapter 10: Updating the Cuban Economic Model, Omar Everleny Pérez Villanueva Chapter 11: Cuba’s Entrepreneurs: Foundation of a New Private Sector, Philip Peters Chapter 12: Cuban Agriculture and the Current Process of Economic Transformation, Armando Nova González Chapter 13: The New Cuban Economy: What Roles for Foreign Investment? Richard E. Feinberg Chapter 14: The Political Economy of Leisure, Marguerite Rose Jiménez Chapter 15: Remittance Recipients and the Present and Future of Microentrepreneurship Activities in Cuba, Manuel Orozco and Katrin Hansing Chapter 16: Poverty and Vulnerability in Cuba Today, María del Carmen Zabala Argüelles Chapter 17: Economic Illegalities and the Underground Economy in Cuba, Archibald Ritter Part III: Foreign Policy Chapter 18: Raúlista Foreign Policy: A Macroperspective, H. Michael Erisman Chapter 19: China and the Future of Cuba, Adrian H. Hearn Chapter 20: Cuban–Latin American and Caribbean Relations: Challenges Beyond, Monica Hirst Chapter 21: Cuban Medical Internationalism under Raúl Castro, John M. Kirk Chapter 22: Cuban Public Diplomacy, Michael J. Bustamante and Julia E. Sweig Chapter 23: The Cuban Five and the U.S. War against Terror, Saul Landau Chapter 24: Untying the Knot: The Possibility of a Respectful Dialogue between Cuba and the United States, Philip Brenner and Soraya M. Castro Mariño Chapter 25: Emigration and U.S.-Cuba Bilateral Relations, Antonio Aja Díaz Chapter 26: Dialogues within and between Cuba and Its Diaspora, Jorge I. Domínguez Chapter 27: Cuba, a Country with a Broken Heart, Leonardo Padura Fuentes Part IV: Culture Chapter 28: Living and Creating in Cuba: Risks and Challenges, Leonardo Padura Fuentes Chapter 29: A Black Woman from Cuba, That’s All: An Interview with Nancy Morejón, Nancy Morejón Chapter 30: Two Songs, Carlos Varela Chapter 31: Culture for the Masses? Daniel Salas González Chapter 32: Nationhood and Identity in Contemporary Cuban Art, Sandra Levinson Chapter 33: Questioning Authority: Cultural Expression of Contemporary Cuban Youth, Ana M. Ruiz Aguirre Chapter 34: Zooming In: Making and Marketing Films in Twenty-First-Century Cuba, Ann Marie Stock Chapter 35: Recovering from Crisis?: Literature, Publishing, and Nation Building in Contemporary Cuba, Par Kumaraswami and Antoni Kapcia Chapter 36: Cuban Sport Development: Building Capacity from el Parque to the Podium, Robert Huish and Simon C. Darnell Part V: Social Change Chapter 37: Cuban Youth: From the “Special Period” to the “Updating” of the Economic and Social Model, María Isabel Domínguez Chapter 38: Notes on the Race Question in Cuba Today, Esteban Morales Chapter 39: Memorable Characters of Cuba, Tracey Eaton Chapter 40: Cuba’s Recent Embrace of Agroecology: Urban and Suburban Agriculture, Sinan Koont Chapter 41: The Cuban Health System: In Search of Quality, Efficiency, and Sustainability, Conner Gory and C. William Keck Chapter 42: Fifty Years Later: Women and Social Change in Cuba, Clotilde Proveyer Cervantes, Reina Fleitas Ruiz, Graciela González Olmedo, Blanca Múnster Infante, and María Auxiliadora César Chapter 43: Cuban Educational Reform during the "Special Period": Dust, Ashes, and Diamonds, Denis Blum Chapter 44: The Changing Dynamics of Sexuality: CENESEX and the Revolution, Emily J. Kirk Chapter 45: Transcript of Television Interview with Mariela Castro, Amy Goodman Chapter 46: Surfing Revolico.com: Cuba’s Answer to Craig’s List, John M. Kirk Cuba Chronology: 2006–2013

Editorial Reviews

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 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

[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

[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.

The 49 contributions to this outstanding anthology trace continuity and change during Cuba's 'special period.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From the Publisher

The 49 contributions to this outstanding anthology trace continuity and change during Cuba's 'special period.'

Foreign Affairs

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

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

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