Review of A History of the Cuban Revolution By Aviva Chomsky
Published by Wiley-Blackwell 2015
This is the second updated edition of the original (2011) book in the undergraduate studies Viewpoints / Puntos de Vista series which aims to ‘introduce students to the most significant themes and topics in Latin American History’. When in the introduction Aviva Chomsky says “The interdisciplinary field of Latin American studies came about in part as a result of the Cuban Revolution, as the State Department sought to create cadres of experts who could guide and implement US policy” I was irritated by what I thought I would read. However she puts all that in context and later says “I cannot help but admire the audacity of a government, and a country, that has tried to invent a radically different path to economic development, and has openly challenged US imperialism in the hemisphere”.
The result is a very useful addition both as a study and reference guide. It has an extensive 15 page bibliography, 20 pages of notes, a glossary, is indexed and has a timelime. It is not a light read with a clear academic audience in mind but it has chapters that can stand alone, based around the themes of economy and politics, relations with the United States, emigration and internationalism, art and culture, diversity, the special period and Cuba in the 21st century. No chapter on the blockade but there are references to the embargo on a number of pages. That is symptomatic of an academic’s even handed equivalence, which reflects a book aimed at a specific educational audience in a country whose public opinion is programmed to be hostile to communism or any different perceptions of freedom. It also explains the need to ensure the anti-Castro view is given a fair hearing in the process. But there was much to learn in the book and whilst nothing is ever examined in depth it sets up all the issues nicely to explore further.
A regular visitor to Cuba, Chomsky s last trip was Feb 2013 and the story goes right up to the momentous end of events in 2014. At 173 pages this is a concise but densely packed primer on Cuba that does exactly what it sets out to do and is a solid entry point for students. But it is one which I feel will need to be then substantiated by the myriad of excellent histories, biographies and reflections on Cuba also available from Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
Bob Oram for CubaSi magazine July 2015. Copyright Cuba Solidarity Campaign
