Cuba: A Revolution in Motion [Paperback]

Isaac Saney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 2004 | ISBN-10: 1842773631 | ISBN-13: 978-1842773635 | Edition: Reprint

This overview of modern Cuban history focuses on the country's post-Soviet economic collapse, the measures that President Castro's government took in response, and their ensuing results and impact. It neither paints Cuba as a perfect society nor universal model for Third World development. But it does show that Cuba demonstrates that even relatively small countries can pursue a path of economic and social development while avoiding the problems endemic in the rest of Latin America. The author argues that the country's political stability is not merely the result of authoritarianism, but that the Cuban political system incorporates important elements of democracy that encourage participation and help generate public support. Cuba today continues to have huge problems, but the wider significance of the Cuban Revolution rests on its practical demonstration that it is possible to pursue radical and humane development policies which are at complete variance with the increasingly criticized nostrums of neoliberal economics being foisted on the rest of the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Saney provides a most impressive sweep over the dynamics of survival and change in the Cuban revolution over the last decade. As a highly informative and insightful look into the Cuban Revolution today there is no book like it. It is a must read not only for Cubanologists but anyone interested in understanding not only how the Revolution has managed to survive decades of US imperialism and the most severe crisis in its history but the fact that it continues to work--and serve as an example, if not model, of a systematic alternative to world capitalism. Well researched and very well written."--Henry Veltmeyer, Saint Mary's University, Halifax and co-author Globalization Unmasked: Imperialism in the 21st Century

"Saney's book is a comprehensive and balanced primer on Cuba and the progress its Revolution has brought the Cuban people. It is highly readable for anyone interested in understanding that nation's ongoing struggle for social justice. In particular, his discussion of inequality and race is the best available in the literature."--Cliff Durand, Morgan State University (Chicago) and coordinator of the Annual Conference of North American and Cuban Philosophers and Social Scientists

"Almost forty-five years have passed since the Cuban Revolution. Has it been successful? Has it failed? Have racism and sexism been eradicated? Is there criminal justice? These are only some of the issues that Saney tackles in this easy-to-read yet profound book in which he offers a rare insight into how Cuba, a small and underdeveloped island nation, has been able to respond positively to the social needs of its population. One of the many strengths of this seminal work is the perspective that Cuban society and the Cuban revolution is, and always has been, in motion--a dynamic process. It's refreshing to find a book that presents the Cuban revolution neither as finished product nor as panacea, that looks coolly and analytically at the achievements, errors, tensions and reflections that have characterized its fascinating history. In particular, Saney's treatment of race and racism in Cuba is one of the most thoughtful and provocative to date, especially on the intersection between their structural and attitudinal dimensions. Yes, racism and inequality are reappearing, but in what form? And why? And is it inevitable? Drawing on his extensive knowledge of Cuba and many visits to the island, Saney dissects the threads of these and other questions in a way that helps renew and animate the debate of race and class not just in relation to Cuba but globally. The author goes a long way towards helping turn around the massive disinformation campaign that has for so long surrounded Cuba, bringing forth all the weight, significance and resonance of this turbulent country in the process. Does a socialist model have something to say about sustainable human development? Can a tiny country find its way through the web of neoliberal globalization without compromising its autonomy or social gains? Is an anti-racist state inherently an anti-capitalist state? Saney touches on all these points and more, placing Cuba squarely within the world at large."--Susan Hurlich, journalist and anthropologist

"This invaluable guide situates modern Cuba's economic and political institutions, its current problems and successes (including, significantly, in issues of race and inequality) in the context in which they must be understood... the implacable hostility of U.S. imperialism and the struggles of the Cuban people for a better world; Saney's book explains why, despite all its difficulties, Cuba continues to inspire people around the world."-- Michael A. Lebowitz, author of Beyond Capital: Marx's Political Economy of the Working Class (Palgrave Macmillan revised edition: 2003)

About the Author

Isaac Saney teaches at Henson College, Dalhousie University, Canada.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Zed Books; Reprint edition (February 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842773631
• ISBN-13: 978-1842773635
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most remarkable stories of our time, April 25, 2004

By 

Malvin (Frederick, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cuba: A Revolution in Motion (Paperback)

"Cuba: A Revolution in Motion" by Isaac Saney offers a balanced, intelligent and highly accessible look at the current condition of the Cuban Revolution. Professor Saney's work shatters the mainstream caricature of Cuba as a nation that history has left behind. To the contrary, the author describes the dynamic and ongoing processes through which the Cuban people have struggled to achieve social justice. As Dr. Saney has demonstrated in this excellent book, the modern Cuban experience is without doubt one of the most remarkable stories of our time, offering insights about how humanity might secure a more peaceful, stable and liveable world.

Dr. Saney is an Associate Director at Henson College, Dalhousie University in Canada. He is a frequent visitor to Cuba and conducts scholarly work in the fields of international development, political economy and law. The author is skilled at explaining Cuban political philosophy and helps us understand how the Cuban decision making process reflects the collectivist values of its society.

The book has six chapters. The first is about the history of Cuba especially as it relates to slavery, U.S. economic dominance and Cuba's dependence on the Soviet Union. The so-called 'Special Period' that began as the result of the collapse of the U.S.S.R. is also covered in detail. Dr. Saney tells us that despite extreme economic hardship and mounting hostility from the U.S., the Revolution has been reaffirmed by the Cuban people. The author describes the many reforms that have been implemented in order to stabilize the economy and ensure that commitments to social justice remain intact for all its citizens.

The second chapter discusses governance, perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspects of modern Cuban society. Dr. Saney states that the goal of the Cuban political system is to "extend democracy to both the political and economic spheres" by enshrining these rights in its constitution. In practice, free elections, unions and mass organizations allow for Cuban democracy to act as a force that shapes society from the bottom-up.

Chapter three addresses race and inequality. Dr. Saney shows us how Cuba has transformed itself from a highly-stratified society to one of the most egalitarian in the world. The author contends that the Cuban state's eradication of the economic basis of racism offers proof that the "abolishment of the capitalist order [is] an indispensable step towards the elimination of racism".

Chapter four is on the topic of crime and justice. Chapter five is about U.S. and Cuban history with an emphasis on recent events. While the Cuban justice system as described by Dr. Saney appears to compare favorably to most others in Latin America, ongoing U.S. hostility has meant that Cuba must make special provisions in its law to protect itself. If Cuba is to be castigated for punishing mercenaries, spies and other aggressors, then it is not unreasonable for the U.S. to cease its ongoing economic embargo, subversive activities and hostile rhetoric.

The final chapter focuses on the lessons learned from the Cuban experience. Dr. Saney discusses Cuba's significant contributions to the world community in organic farming, biotechnology and health care. Other noteworthy accomplishments that the author highlights include the Cuban military's support of Angola (which was a critical factor in freeing the South African people from apartheid) and the leadership role that Cubans have played in various international human rights organizations. The author also believes that the Cuban people will be successful in protecting socialism even as it opens its economy to foreign investment.

Cuba is not a perfect society, but Dr. Saney has amply demonstrated in this book that Cuba's vitality continues to pose a challenge to the "inherent injustice and unsustainability" of capitalism. I encourage everyone to read this outstanding book to learn more about the Cuban experience and to gain insight into how we might secure a better future for all.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INSIGHTS INTO A DIFFERENT WORKING PARADIGM, September 23, 2007

By 

Roy Wilson (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cuba: A Revolution in Motion (Paperback)

In this literary composition, brief yet comprehensive, Isaac Saney is making the case that:

"The Cuban experience offers significant insights into not only a different paradigm, but a paradigm that has largely been successful--especially given the objective limitations of a small, poor, underdeveloped island nation--in utilizing the country's resources and wealth for the public good."

Saney's work shows a deep understanding of history and the difficult, complex and contradictory process involved in the transformation of underdeveloped countries, from poverty and backwardness into more sustainable, developed and just societies.

As he stated, "For Cubans, history has not yet met its `end'. The present is not detached from what has preceded it. This is the context that frames the oft-repeated slogan, `Socialism or death'..."

Any attentive reader may point out that Saney's work appears to be too sympathetic to Cuba. Such a reader may have a valid point.

Notwithstanding, the said alert, objective reader may also concede that the main argument presented in the book is carefully researched and presented.

Although Saney resides in the high tower of academia, his writing style borders on down-to-earth journalistic. Not completely, but he has made the book comprehensible by the broadest cross-section of readers.

"Cuba A Revolution in Motion" is a good book. I recommend it highly!

The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution

In-Dependence from Bondage: Claude McKay and Michael Manley: Defying the Ideological Clash and Policy Gaps in African Diaspora Relations

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe big bad Cuba are not quite the evil commies our governement tries to paint them as..., October 21, 2009

By 

Nicholas Dodge (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cuba: A Revolution in Motion (Paperback)

Great book and in my opinion it should be required reading for anyone who truly wants some insight into the situation in Cuba. I find it facinating to read about what Cuba was like before the revolution ("The American Mafia's whorehouse") and the great changes that have happened since those days thanks to heroes like Fidel and Che. Very insightful!