Cuba Was Different: Views of the Cuban Communist Party on the Collapse of Soviet and Eastern European Socialism

Sandvik Underlid's book, In Cuba Was Different, explores why the Cuban system did not collapse despite the loss of its allies, ideological referents, and foreign trade. He critically examines and analyzes the collapse of the USSR and Eastern Europe through the lens of the Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma and interviews with individual Party members, providing new perspectives on how these events were seen from Cuba.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 17 March 2022
Publisher: Haymarket Books

In Cuba Was Different,Even Sandvik Underlid delves into the perspectives of Cuban authorities, official press, and Party members, as they reminisce about the collapse of Soviet and Eastern European socialism. By doing so, he contributes to a deeper understanding of why the Cuban system, often associated with Fidel Castro's leadership, did not collapse itself. Despite the loss of its most important allies, key ideological referents, and even most of its foreign trade, Cuba did not embrace capitalism. The author critically examines and analyzes the collapse of the USSR and Eastern Europe as reported in the Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma, both as they unfolded and subsequently through additional interviews with individual Party members. This focus on Cuba's Communist Party offers new perspectives on how these events were perceived from Cuba and on the remarkable resilience of many party members.

In Cuba Was Different,Even Sandvik Underlid explores the views of Cuban authorities, official press, and Party members as they reflect back on the collapse of Soviet and Eastern European socialism.

In so doing, he contributes to a better understanding as to why the Cuban system—often associated with Fidel Castro's leadership—did not itself collapse.

Despite the loss of its most important allies, key ideological referents, and even most of its foreign trade, Cuba did not embrace capitalism.

The author critically examines and analyzes the collapse of the USSR and Eastern Europe as reported in the Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma, both as they unfolded and subsequently through the lens of additional interviews with individual Party members.

This focus on Cuba's Communist Party provides new perspectives on how these events were seen from Cuba and on the notable resilience of many party members.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642596199