Description
Book SynopsisA theoretical, historical, and contemporary analysis. The book encompasses the institution of the Organs of the People's power in 1976 to the present.
Trade ReviewPraise for the first edition: This is the first study to demarcate an important organ of Cuba's socialist government from its Soviet model. The study results in a reassessment of some entrenched presumptions about Cuba-that its government is totalitarianand non-responsive, and that all its allegedly representative bodies are rubber stamps, totally dominated by the Communist Party.... * The Washington Report On The Hemisphere *
Praise for the first edition: [Poeple's Power] reminds readers of a largely forgotten alternative approach to democracy, a (not fully worked out) approach that was embraced by many socialists for over a century but later was largely forgotten following the rejection of its completely bastardized application in the USSR. In this way this work also constitutes a contribution to the current debate on the nature of democracy under socialism, arguably the central issue in the post USSR debate on the nature of socialism... * Science & Society *
Praise for the first edition: This is a powerful, well-written, well-argued, and honest book. It makes a really eye-opening classroom text for courses on Cuba or socialism. Peter Roman should be congratulated upon a singular accomplishment..... * Monthly Review *
Peter Roman's book is a valuable study that helps us better understand the workings, successes, and shortcomings of the Cuban government's effort to promote democracy in that country. -- City University of New York, Carlos Sanabria, City University of New York
This well-researched and -written book . . . will come as a revelation to many readers. People's Power, based on years of field work and first-hand experience of Cuban elections and the workings of representative bodies, demonstrates that there is a functioning popular democratic political culture as the basis of the Cuban government. * Political Affairs *
Praise for the first edition: This is the first study to demarcate an important organ of Cuba's socialist government from its Soviet model. The study results in a reassessment of some entrenched presumptions about Cuba-that its government is totalitarian and non-responsive, and that all its allegedly representative bodies are rubber stamps, totally dominated by the Communist Party. * The Washington Report On The Hemisphere *
Praise for the first edition: [Poeple's Power] reminds readers of a largely forgotten alternative approach to democracy, a (not fully worked out) approach that was embraced by many socialists for over a century but later was largely forgotten following the rejection of its completely bastardized application in the USSR. In this way this work also constitutes a contribution to the current debate on the nature of democracy under socialism, arguably the central issue in the post USSR debate on the nature of socialism. * Science & Society *
Praise for the first edition: This is a powerful, well-written, well-argued, and honest book. It makes a really eye-opening classroom text for courses on Cuba or socialism. Peter Roman should be congratulated upon a singular accomplishment. * Monthly Review *
Deserves a place on the shelves of all serious students of Cuba and of comparative government. * The Bulletin Of Latin American Research *
Praise for the first edition: This detailed study of the representative institutions of Cuban government provides considerable insight as to the sources of the resilience of Cuban socialism in the face of its well-known economic challenges. . . . Roman makes a strong case that local participation by ordinary citizens is common, lively, and given the lack of resources, reasonably effective. . . . Cuba's system should definitely be pondered by serious students of democracy, and Roman's informative book is a good place to start. * New Political Science *
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Early Theories of Socialist Government Chapter 3 Lenin and the Socialist State Chapter 4 The Organs of People's Power: An Overview Chapter 5 Nominations and Elections Chapter 6 Accountability Chapter 7 The People's Councils Chapter 8 Conclusion Part 9 Appendix: Workers' Parliament in Cuba
