Cuba and Its Neighbours: Democracy in Motion

Part I Clearing the Cobwebs Around Democracy

Chapter 1  Democracy and U.S.-Centrism
Democracy or Democratization?
Democratization from the Bottom Up: Occupying Public Spaces (2011-12)

Chapter 2  Democracy in the U.S.
Birth of the U.S. and the American Dream
Foreign Policy Toward Its Neighbours and Democracy Promotion
Founding Fathers\' Heritage and Voter Turnout
Competitive Multi-Party Democratic Elections: Obama Case Study
Co-Optation and Individual Opportunism
The Credibility Gap
Obama\'s First Experiences and Reactions
Obama\'s Foreign Policy: The \"New Face\" and Cuba
Honduras: The \"Reluctant Sheriff\"
The Occupy Movement: Breaking Out of U.S.-Centrism?
The November 2012 Elections and Obama

Chapter 3  Exploring Democracies in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador
Venezuela: New Experiments in Participatory Democracy
Bolivia\'s Democracy in Motion: On the Edge
Ecuador\'s New Constitution: Sumak Kawsay and Participatory Democracy
ALBA, CELAC and U.S. Democracy Promotion

Part II Cuba: Constitutions, Elections and New States

Chapter 4  Participation in Constitutions, Elections and a New State (1868-1952)Cuba\'s First Homegrown Constitutions, 
Embryonic States and Elections (1868-98)
Cuba, U.S. Freedom of the Press and Military Intervention (1898)
U.S. Domination, Interference and Co-Optation vs. Democracy (1898-1952)

Chapter 5  Democracy, Elections and the New State
A Rebellion Against Dogmatism of the Left and the Batista Dictatorship (1953)
Participatory Nineteenth-Century Republic in Arms Reborn (1957-58)
Lessons for Today from 1958: Grass-Roots Democracy vs. Elections,
Co-Optation, Dissidence
The Provisional Revolutionary Government and Constitution (1959)
Elections: Who Rejected Them?
Elections Analysis: Then and Now
Participatory Democracy and U.S. Frustrations
Democratization Through Mass Organizations and Participation
Initial Attempts to Establish Local Governments and Elections
Origins of the PCC: Yesterday and Today
Elections, New State Structure and Constitution (1970-76)

Part III  Contemporary Cuba:  The Test for Democratization

Chapter 6  The 2011-12 Communist Party Congress and Conference: Democratization and the Press
Democratization Through People\'s Control and the Press
Opening the Debate
The 2011 Party Congress Deliberations: Input and People\'s Control
The Dialectics of Discrepancies and Consensus: Democracy in Motion
Congress Guidelines: Application and People\'s Participation
The 2012 PCC Conference and the Press: Trials and Tribulations
Participatory Democracy, the Press and Social Scientists
Capitalism, Socialism and Cuba\'s Errors

Chapter 7  Elections in Contemporary Cuba
The Cuban Electoral Process: An Overview
The Soviet Political Model: A Cuban Import?
The 1992 Constitutional Reforms and Their Impact on Elections
Elections, Constitution and Political System
General Elections -- First Phase: Municipal Elections
Decentralization
Voter Registration
Nominating Candidates for Elections to the Municipal Assemblies
The PCC in the Nomination Process
Debating the Improvement of Nomination Assemblies
Elections to the Municipal Assemblies
Analyzing Municipal Election Results
General Elections -- Second Phase: The National anpp
The Candidacies Commissions and Nominations
Improving the Candidacies Commissions
Elections to the ANPP
The Slate vs. Selective Vote: A Rejection of the Government?
One Candidate for Election per anpp Seat: Talking Figures
Who Are the Deputies? Talking Quality
Composition of the ANPP
\"Almost All Deputies Are Communist Party Members\"
Elections: ANPP Officials, Council of State and Its President, Raúl Castro

Chapter 8  The ANPP and the Municipality: Functioning Between Elections
Are Democratization and Revolutionary Leadership Compatible?
Who Legislates?
Case Study: Participation in Drafting the Social Security Bill
Unanimity in the ANPP
The ANPP and Cuba\'s Foreign Policy
Municipal-Level Participation: Limits and Perspectives
Cuban Democracy: Representative or Participatory?
People\'s Councils: Potential for Further Democratization
The Potential of the Local Level and Need for Enhanced Participation

Conclusion: The Future of Democratization: Facing the Tests