Week 14—History of Latin America
Revisiting the Cuban Revolution
************************************************************

I. Chronology of Revolution

- 1960s, "spiritual and moral" goals
- 1970s, "sovietization"
- 1980s, "rectification" of Cuban socialism
- 1990s, "Special Period in a Time of Peace"

II. Changes and Contradictions

A. Economics

- Pre- and post-revolutionary sugar:

  1950s 1980s
Sugar exports/total exports 83% 77%
Trade w/ main partner (US/USSR) as % of total sector 68% 66%

- Special Period economics:

Austerity, conservation, rationing
Attempts to protect social services
Mixed economy w/ some private industry (Foreign) investment in t
ourism, biotechnology, environmental technology
1993, dollar decriminalized
2003-4, shift towards euro

B. Politics

- anti-corruption
- political consciousness-raising
- egalitarianism
- repression

C. Society

- health and education
- w/ tourism, new (old?) social ills

D. Culture

- political
- race and gender
- religion

1991, from "atheist" to "secular"