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The race/colour question and its political implications in Cuba have been foregrounded recently. A cross-section of Cuban society has encouraged discourses on racial awareness and anti-racist epistemologies as direct or indirect, but positive, outcomes of the encounter with ideas of decolonisation promoted by Black movements and readings of Black Caribbean intellectuals. Through history and the multidisciplinary nature of cultural studies, this article explores regional intersections among Pan-Africanism, Caribbean social and intellectual thought, and some expressions of these ideas in Cuba. It focuses on identity, Black consciousness and the tangential impact of Pan-Africanism as a political ideology on Cuba in three different periods. The author argues that the ideas of Marcus Garvey, Walter Rodney and Bob Marley provide ideologically connecting points in the assessment of cross-cultural connections between Cuba and the Caribbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the decision of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on suit was filed pursuant to Title III of the Helms-Burton Act which creates a private right of action for individuals who,Re property has been nationalized by the Cuban government. It mentions Title III claims were unable to sue in federal court during the period of Title III's suspension and aims to deter foreign investment that helps propagate the undemocratic Cuban government.

The article evaluates the evolution of the Cuban economic reform embodied in the Guidelines on the Economic and Social Policy of the Party and the Revolution. Almost a decade after its approval, we assess progress and shortcomings while pointing out obstacles for the process to advance, together with suggestions on courses of action to continue the reform. After referring to previous attempts of economic change, we analyze the advancement of the Guidelines until 2019, a key year for Cuba since a new Constitution was approved. For this assessment were examined macroeconomic indicators, policy makers' public discourse and academic papers published by renowned scholars of Cuban economy and society. The analysis of the international situation was considered with an emphasis on Cuba's condition as Small Island Developing State -a factor that has often been underestimated by policy makers as well as by critics of the Cuban model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever since the Cuban Revolution of 1959 Cuba has faced hostility from its northern neighbour, the United States. An unrelenting US campaign led to Cuba's expulsion from the now discredited Organisation of American States, and it has faced an economic, commercial and financial blockade since 1962. This policy has failed. Cuba has developed a global and strategic foreign policy which with limited resources allows it to be a very active component of the international scene. Cuba's foreign policy is independent and active in defending just causes and the right of each country to adopt its own decisions, without external interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the theoretical conceptions defined for the new Cuban economic and social Model. It also warns about how difficult is to implement the economic reform. The main objective of the paper is to propose an approach for teaching "Political Economy of Socialism", which develops the ability of critical reflection in University students, instead of the assimilation of theories which validity can be limited to historical changing context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews some of the most widespread thesis on the early political transition to socialism in Cuba, as from Marx, Engels and Lenin main hypothesis that explain other contexts, and which potentially may contribute to a better understanding of the current Latin American revolutionary processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to know the contribution of the innovation system to local development management in the Perico municipality -Matanzas province, Cuba-, a systematization exercise was carried out in the period 2013-2016. For such purpose, interviews were made to key actors, who were identified and classified according to the objective, the functions and interest of the study, as well as according to the practices implemented in the farms. The information was processed using the method of divergence and recurrence analysis1. In addition, the productive diversity, mercantile production and incomes of the involved farms; the flexibility of the current legislation with regards to the economic activity; the establishment of innovations, private and state initiative for innovation; the participatory processes and commercialization of local products, were evaluated. The incorporation of good practices of the innovation system allowed an increase of the farm mercantile production and incomes, which was favored by the direct relation between the originated transformations regarding diversity and practice, and the economic-productive indicators. The practices promoted from the local innovation system have allowed the modification of the ways to disseminate knowledge, by opening exchange and innovation spaces that stimulate the consolidation of alliances and links among the local sectors. However, no effective mechanisms of mobilization which would allow to overcome the citizens' lack of confidence and discouragement were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017, Cuba prepared itself for a momentous change that was coming in 2018: the first time in 59 years that a Castro would not be leading the government. No one expects Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, whom the National Assembly elected as Cuba's president in April 2018, to chart a course dramatically different from the one President Raúl Castro had established. However, given the economic, demographic, and international political challenges Cuba faced in 2017, the year had to be viewed as the end of an era. Change is inevitable in order to sustain the Cuban Revolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adequacy of the norm to the socio-economic context of the society in which it rules is an indispensable requirement for its effectiveness, a premise that the leaders of the Cuban revolution took into account to erect the revolutionary process, thus, all economic, social movements that were experienced in the nascent years of the Cuban revolution were legitimized, with the promulgation of the 1976 Constitution as a maximum expression, legislative support for the fundamental principles of the Cuban revolution, ending the period of provisionality and beginning the institutionalization of Cuban State. A historical contextual analysis, taking into account the peculiarities of the economic, political and social stage, of the laws enacted after 1976, demonstrates our government's intention to legally support the principles and achievements of the Cuban revolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the rising inequality in Cuba, focusing on financial crisis that was followed by the fall of Soviet Union. It states that Cuba faces issues concerning race, class, property rights, labor systems, and culture and identity. It notes the lack of economic development and U.S. President Donald Trump's rollback on the relations between U.S. and Cuba.

Colonialism, imperialism and anti-imperialism have been decisive in shaping Cuban political identity for 150 years. US determination to control Cuba, consistent with the Monroe Doctrine, had a strong economic rationale even before Spain was defeated in the War of Independence in 1898. Debate raged between Cubans who aspired to true independence and an annexationalist minority, who favoured union with the US. The Platt Amendment imposed on Cuba by the US in 1903 ‘reduced the independence and sovereignty of the Cuban republic to a myth’. Between then and the Revolution of 1959 Cuba was effectively first a protectorate and then neo-colony of the US, which dominated the Cuban economy, politics and foreign policy. Tackling the terrible socioeconomic and political effects of Cuba’s subjugation under the Spanish empire and then US imperialism necessitated a radical transformation of the Cuban economy, political institutions and power structures. The transition to socialism inevitably meant confronting US imperialism – and vice versa. Since 1959, US imperialism, with its powerful allies in the right-wing exile community based in Miami, have relentlessly tried to destroy the Revolution and Cuban socialism. The issue of imperialism remains key today, in the post-Fidel, President Trump era. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article examines the role of intellectuals in the Cuban civil society and political power as of June 2017. Topics include intellectuals' participation in the early decades of revolution, socialism that is based on national independence and social justice, and the economic and ideological crises in the 1990s. Also discussed are President Raúl Castro's call for criticism and discussion of the country's problems and reshaping of the socialism model and the country's social structure and the economic changes that has transformed the society.

The article examines the early policies of the Cuban revolutionary government which leveled incomes and offered upward mobility opportunities as of June 2017. Topics include discrimination against Afro-Cubans, the economic collapse in the 1990s and its impact on the country, and Cuba's economic condition. Also discussed are the government's tolerance of the private sector, budget constraints and labor market distortions, structural problems in Cuba's economic model, and the political challenges posed by the economic reform process.

The article examines the key challenges facing political leaders in Cuba in changing the economic model as of June 2017. These challenges are building and maintaining consensus among political elites over the process of economic reform and rebuilding of regime legitimacy with the public around performance if the founding generation will retire. Also discussed are President Raúl Castro's economic policy that promotes market socialism and Castro's belief that bureaucrats must have positive attitudes toward markets and private property.

The article examines the developments in digital journalism in Cuba as of June 2017. Topics include the Cuban government's monopoly on print and broadcast media, the threat posed by Internet access to politics, and the history of several web sites. These web sites include one by Yoani Sánchez, another by Elaine Díaz, and one by Pedro Enrique Rodríguez. Also discussed are the possibility that Internet access will expand in the country if its relationship with the U.S. will be normalized and how citizens can help shape their society and their future.

The article explores the attitude of the Cuban government toward small private businesses from 1967 to 2017, highlighting the measures implemented to revive the private sector. Topics include the nationalization of the Cuban economy by former president Fidel Castro in the 1960s, legalization of self-employment, and the resurgence of incipient capitalism. Also discussed are President Raúl Castro's approach to the economy, the role of the private sector in Cuban socialism, and the increase in the number of self-employed people in the country.

The article presents the author's views on the essays and fictional works of author Calvert Casey. Various topics discussed include aesthetics and politics in Cuba in 1960s, Cuban Revolution in 20th century, cultural history of the country, Cuba in 19th century and relation between history of Cuba and Latin America. Author further discusses Cuban Romantics, Cuban authors of the time, romanticism in Cuban narratives, representation of Cuban social values in literature, aesthetics of Casey and Cuban Revolution.

The article discusses the constitution of Cuba, focusing on its reform announced by Cuba's President Raúl Castro. Topics include the roadmap to the constitutional reform, its legal culture, and the doctrinal foundation of the country's constitutionalism considering the Spanish colonial period, the U.S. military period, and the revolutionary period. Also discussed are the separation of constitutional powers, independence of the judiciary, and coexistence of domestic law and law of nations.

Any attempt to interpret the events that happened 148 years ago can be very risky if one does not consider the historic context. This risk is even greater since these particular events are foundational to Cuban history. We will not only analyze the first days of the independence movement but more importantly, we will shed light on the need of a cohesive structure shaped by a law that unified the Cuban patriots. It was a very unusual process indeed, in that it aimed at establishing first a Constitution to regulate the Island's course during the war, and only then turning its attention to defeating Spain. This "Constitution of Guáimaro" was named after the town which brought about the Constitutional Assembly. We will emphasize the influence of the Cadiz Constitution and the celebrated priest, Felix Varela, as the first promoter of constitutional ideas in Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article I analyze the modifications brought to the iconography of the Havana nightlife in two movies from the early years of the Cuban revolutionary regime: Orlando Jiménez Leal’s and Sabá Cabrera Infante’s documentaryP.M.(1961), and Mijail Kalatozov’s Cuban-Soviet co-productionSoy Cuba/Ya Kuba(1964). Both movies signal the transition between what I callP.M.’s aesthetic of disorder, with its alleged objective and apolitical gaze over the nightlife in Havana, andSoy Cuba’s aesthetic of order, in which nightlife becomes a problem. A comparative analysis of both movies allows a better understanding of the ideologies that shaped the emerging revolutionary Cuban cinema. It also illuminates the critical reception of both movies, from the early years of the Cuban Revolution to the years of the Special Period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the implications of Cuban President Fidel Castro's anti-Americanism on Cuba's relationship with the U.S. Topics include the U.S policymakers' emotional response to Castro's anti-American rhetoric that led to conclude that coexistence with his revolutionary government is impossible, the issues that contributed to the break in U.S.-Cuban relations including Castro's tolerance for communists in his government, the nationalization of U.S. property, and Castro's neutralist foreign policy, and the Castro's criticism of the historicfal role of the U.S. in his country.

Cuba, this iconic revolutionary island which has brought so much hope to the Third World and, at one point, worry for a nuclear World War III, is going through a process of change never seen since Fidel Castro led his revolutionary forces to triumph around New Year’s of 1959. Yet, 10 years into the change process, led by the younger Castro Raúl (now 85), nobody can really forecast where the country will end up in socio-economic and political terms. In this TWQ subsection, two economists and three political scientists – two Cubans and three European Cuba watchers – analyse the reforms and their possible outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Why do some authoritarian regimes abruptly collapse, whereas others display remarkable resilience and durability? This article addresses one particularly striking example. Why did the Batista regime in Cuba unexpectedly and suddenly disintegrate in 1958 under challenge from the small guerrilla force that Fidel Castro had established in the Sierra Maestra, whereas – over half a century later – the Castro regime has not only survived as the most long-lasting system of personalist rule in existence but has actually displayed a plausible capacity to perpetuate itself after the inevitably approaching death of its founders? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standard wisdom explains Cuba’s current transformation as one of economic change but political immobility. However, Cuban politics have also undergone a major change since the handing over of power from Fidel to Raúl Castro – even if the rhetoric used has been one of continuity. This article traces this process by looking at four areas: the depersonalisation and re-institutionalisation of the political structures; the diversification of the public sphere, particularly through the use of digital media; the liberalisation of travel and migration, with its transformative impact on state–citizen relations; and the turn to a moderate foreign policy, as highlighted by the rapprochement with the USA, with its implications for legitimising the underpinnings of Cuban socialism. Although the shift has been well below the threshold of a transition to multiparty democracy, Cuba has evolved from the charismatic model of the past to what can be understood as bureaucratic socialism in reform mode. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

After Raul Castro’s accession to the presidency of Cuba, the country has witnessed the most far-reaching process of economic reforms for more than five decades. The government has expanded the private and cooperative sectors, has passed a new foreign investment law, restructured most of its old debt and has sought to end the long-standing dispute with the USA. Yet economic performance has been poor and the country faces significant challenges and contradictions arising from the reforms. This paper analyses the macroeconomic environment and the changes introduced by the Cuban government over the period 2007–15. While successful at restoring macroeconomic equilibria, restrictive macroeconomic policies have hurt economic growth, whereas growth- and efficiency-enhancing measures are yet to produce results. Moreover, transformation of the economic model is slow because of its many internal contradictions. The paper also discusses some of the main impediments to future change. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

El desafío fundamental para el gobierno cubano consiste en obtener los beneficios esperados de esta dctudlización del socialismo, al tiempo que mantiene el control político del proceso reformista. ¿Qué tan exitosa será esta reforma económica? ¿Cómo responderá la población ante los nuevos incentivos?. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photo essay which documents the political, economic and social changes in Cuba is presented.

The article offers the author's opinion on aspects of Cuba's movement for democracy under Raúl Castro's presidency in 2008-2016. The author is critical on Castro's dictatorship which differ from other Latin American countries that underwent a transition of democracy during the 1980s. He suggests for the country to adopt the principles that have guided democratic transitions in Eastern Europe. He also argues against the acceptance of Cuba's hybrid regime as an alternative to dictatorship.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue including an essay on infrastructural modernization efforts in Puerto Rico, an interview with environmental justice activist Elizabeth Yeampierre, and a report on the transition of power from in Cuba.

The article focuses on the transition of power in Cuba on April 19, 2018, when the newly-elected National Assembly chose a new president to replace Raúl Castro. Topics discussed include information on the newly elected president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, the market reforms introduced by Castro while in power, and the implications of the power transition for the Cuban economy. Also mentioned is the current state of U.S.-Cuban relations.