Course Catalogue

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Since the Revolution of 1959, Cuba has been a country of contradictions: a poor country with world-leading human development indicators; a small island that mobilises the world's largest international humanitarian assistance; a weak and dependent economy which has survived economic crises and the United States blockade. Despite meeting most of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, Cuba's socialist development strategy is not upheld as an example. This course will draw on the economic, social and political history of Cuba to explain these contradictions. It provides a long-term perspective of Cuban development and then focuses on the post-1959 decades. The first part of the course gives an historical overview; the second part looks at society, politics, and economics in revolutionary Cuba. It also examines Cuba's international relations, including with the United States.

Weekly lecture (1 hour) and weekly seminar (1 hour).

Enrolment in an MA (SocSci) or MA (Arts) Honours Programme

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30% Analysis of one of the primary source documents provided during the first five weeks of the course (1,000 words, excluding bibliography)

20% Crossword and definition exercise (750 words, excluding bibliography)

  50% One essay chosen from list of questions linked to seminar/lecture topics (2,500 words, excluding   bibliography)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course seeks to understand the apparent contradictions inherent in Cuban development, in order to account for the resilience of Cuba's revolutionary process over six decades. Despite dramatic transformations in international political economy, Cuba has retained its socialist system. This status quo has been characterised by innovation and rejuvenation, rather than dogmatism or stagnation. The course aims to provide a long-term historical perspective for analysing both the constraints and capacity of Cuba to respond to past and present challenges. It aims to situate Cuban political economy in relation to a broader 'challenge of development' and interrogate the notion of 'Cuban exceptionalism'. The course will challenge students to reflect on their current assumptions about the Cuban revolution, economy, politics, and international projection, and give them the tools necessary for independent critical analysis.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Assess the politically charged nature of Cuba studies, particularly in the field of economic history, and be able to present a historiographical critique of different schools and paradigms.

2. Evaluate how Spain's colonisation of Cuba and the introduction of the sugar industry have shaped the island's long-term development up until the present, including its environmental history.

3. Analyse the United States' impact on Cuba's economic, political, social, legal and cultural structures from the 19th century to the present.

4. Assess the rationale for the post-1959 Cuban government's development strategy and evaluate its achievements in the areas covered: health, education, culture, art and sport; science and technology, sustainable development and ecology, social welfare, political participation and democracy.

5. Identify the factors behind Cuba's changing international relations over the period.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.