Cuban Communism: Tenth Edition

There is no handier guide to the Castro regime and the debates swirling around it.-Foreign Affairs Appearing in the aftermath of the stunning events surrounding the Elian Gonzalez case, the nature of Cuban Communism has again become a core issue for the American people. Cuban Communism has widely come to be known as "the Bible of Cuban Studies." It has been updated and upgraded for the fourth decade of Castro's successful seizure of power, the longest running dictatorship in the world. In addition to articles and essays representing recent developments in Cuba, the work boasts an update of three new features that will make it even more important to students, scholars, and researchers in the area.

The volume has an entirely new section on future prospects for civil society and democracy for Cuba in a post-Castro environment. It also contains a chronology of events from 1959 through 2000 that will be important as a guide for studying the period. Finally, the work contains a brief but carefully constructed who's who of important players in Cuba and the regime during the Castro-period.

Some of the articles new to the tenth edition of Cuban Communism are by Ernesto Betancourt, "Technical Assistance Needs for Institutional Transformation"; Andrew Natsios, "Humanitarian Assistance During a Democratic Transition in Cuba"; Juan J. Lopez, "Non-Transition in Cuba"; Michael Radu, "United States and Cuba after Castro"; Sergio Diaz-Briquets, "International Lending Institutions in Cuba's Transition Process," and "Future Security Issues between the United States and Cuba" by Brian Latell. This edition sheds new light on why, despite predictions of imminent collapse, the Castro regime has remained in power. It offers insights into the survival potential of dictatorships and illegitimate regimes despite crisis and ostracism. It is, more than ever, a must volume for those interested in comparative political systems and social structures.

Irving Louis Horowitz is Hannah Arendt Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Political Science at Rutgers University. Among his works are Three Worlds of Development, Beyond Empire and Revolution, and the Bacardi Lectures on Cuba, published as The Conscience of Worms and the Cowardice of Lions.

Jaime Suchlicki is Bacardi Professor of History at the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Miami, and executive director of its Cuban-American and Cuban Center. He is author of From Columbus to Castro, University Students and Revolution in Cuba, and Mexico: From Montezuma to Nafta, Chiapas and Beyond .

The new edition of this collection edited by Horowitz (emeritus, sociology and political science, Rutgers U.) and Suchlicki (history, U. of Miami) emphasizes "transition" after Castro, with new articles on economic organizations, U.S. policy, "communist successor regimes," and "regime change" in Cuba. Many of the 39 articles addressing Cuban history, economics, society, and politics have been retained from earlier editions. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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The Elian Gonzalez case and its aftermath is one of the events enhancing the latest edition of the compendium of articles and essays, which has been updated frequently between 1970 and 1998. Also revised are projections for post-Castro Cuba, a chronology from 1959 to 2000, and biographical sketches of important figures. Still missing is an index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Irving Louis Horowitz (1929-2012) was Hannah Arendt distinguished university professor emeritus of sociology and political science at Rutgers University. He served as chairman of the board and editorial director of Transaction Publishers. A prolific writer, he authored more than fifty books as well as hundreds of articles and essays.

Jaime Suchlicki, one of the leading scholars of Latin America, has taught Mexican and Cuban history for more than thirty years. Formerly executive director of the North-South Center at the University of Miami, he is now Bacardi Professor at the Graduate School of International Studies. He formerly edited the Journal of Inter-American Studies and World Affairs and has had a number of advisory positions in public and private sectors. He is author of University Students and Revolution in Cuba and Cuba: From Columbus to Castro.