On Socialism and Popular Participation in Cuba

Abstract

Several aspects of the development of the Cuban socialist transition are analyzed with a focus on popular participation and control as the capacity and activity of the great majorities to act on the power relations and, at different levels, shape up the social, economic, political, and cultural development of the nation. Evaluating in depth the state of popular participation in the current context — characterized by the process of updating the socialist development model — requires attention to the historical background. At once, the challenges faced and the conditions required for strengthening the political power of the grassroots and ensuring the continuity of the Cuban Revolution are to be pondered.