Cuba: Religion, Social Capital, and Development

AcknowledgementsIntroduction: Structure and Spirit; 1. Spirits in Motion: Folklore and Function; 2. State Decentralization and the Collaborative Spirit; 3. Sustainable Sovereignty: International NGOs and Civil Society in Cuba; 4. Patriotic Spirits: Christian Welfare Programs and the Politics of Syncretism; Conclusion: Development and DialogueNotes; References; Index

University of Technology, Sydney

"This is one of the best studies on civil society in Cuba that I have read. Adrian H. Hearn combines first-rate ethnography, theoretical sophistication, and a solid understanding of the complexities of the Cuban political context. By focusing on Afro-Cuban religious communities and international NGOs, Hearn shows how the interpenetration of state and citizen action has shaped civil society in Cuba. The result is a fascinating analysis of the ongoing transformations within the Cuban Revolution." Ariel C. Armony, Katz Distinguished Associate Professor of Government, Colby College "This volume reveals the complexity of Cuban society through remarkable ethnographic research. Based on years of research in Cuba, the work documents the inner workings of communities that use deeply held religious beliefs to promote development projects aimed at securing basic needs. Through skillful analysis, Adrian H. Hearn reveals the realities of life for ordinary Cubans. This book is a major contribution to our understanding of contemporary Cuba, as well as an exemplar for all those interested in how religion and community development can intersect." Margaret Crahan, author of Religion, Culture, and Society: The Case of Cuba "Adrian Hearn throws some piercing insights into the complex relationship between the Cuban state and grassroots neighbourhood initiatives and formal and informal local organisations that, the author contends, have flourished after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the onset of what was known as the "special period in peace time"...the book contains an astonishing amount of detailed knowledge of local social and cultural projects in various poor districts in Havana" Francisco Dominguez, Times Higher Education, December 2008