The Changing Dynamic of Cuban Civil Society

Does a civil society actually exist in Cuba today and if so what is its nature and role? In seeking answers to this hotly contested and highly politicized question, Alexander Gray and Antoni Kapcia have assembled an impressive and diverse group of contributors. The essays inThe Changing Dynamic of Cuban Civil Societyrange from general discussion of the private sector to case studies about volunteer work, religious entities, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the economic crisis in 1990, the Cuban state has experienced severe challenges, and individuals have been forced to respond in unexpected ways to ensure their economic survival. Avoiding polemics and preconceptions, this volume brings a fresh and welcome perspective to one of the most vexing issues in Cuban society today.

Alexander I. Gray, a researcher in the European Network of Excellence on International Migration, Integration, and Social Cohesion, is the editor of Conflict Resolution and European Legacies of War. Antoni Kapcia, professor of Latin American history at the University of Nottingham and professor invitado at the University of Havana, is the author of Cuba: Island of Dreams.