No other volume comes close to providing a better understanding of how much has changed in twenty-first century scholarship about Cuba and how much continues to change. What remains unchanged in this new edition is the remarkable breath of the 25 chapters, most authored by a “who’s who” of Cuban scholarship, now joined by younger voices, and all careful to include historical context.

Lars G. Schoultz, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Composed of essays from widely recognized and admired authorities on and off the island, this collection provides an essential and unvarnished evaluation of Cuba and its social, cultural, and political evolution in the twenty-first century. Any scholar wishing to appraise themselves of where the revolution is at and where it is going could not do any better than consult this book.

Stephen Wilkinson, director of the International Institute for the Study of Cuba, The University of Buckingham

This new edition provides another much needed update on an impressively wide range of topics in a Cuba now without the Castros and, more importantly, features a welcome range of scholarly views of the present reality on the island. Yet another boon for students of Cuba.

Antoni Kapcia, emeritus professor, Centre for Research on Cuba, University of Nottingham

The contributors to this masterful book wrestle thoughtfully with ‘the crisis of meaning’ of Cuba’s revolutionary process in the wake of the intense protests on the island in July 2021 and illuminate the severity and complexity of the challenges facing Cuba on a broad spectrum of fronts. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand Cuba today.

Cynthia McIntock, Cynthia McClintock, professor of political science and international affairs, George Washington University

Conversations about Cuba, especially in the English-speaking world, tend to be narrow in focus and polarized in tone. Contemporary Cuba is a welcome contrast—comprehensive and balanced—that moves our understandings of the island beyond stale Cold War stereotypes. The volume has remarkable breadth and depth and makes clear that Cubans are facing a challenging present. It also illuminates visions for the future that bring our understanding of Cuba out from the long shadow of the past.

Tom Long, reader in international relations, University of Warwick

Pounded mercilessly by U.S. sanctions and grappling with a contracting economy, severe shortages of food and fuel, and massive emigration, Cuban society is unraveling. In this indispensable compendium, 29 leading experts, including many young Cuban scholars, delve deeply into this precipitous disintegration.

Foreign Affairs