Editor's Choice Ep. 8: Agrarian History of the Cuban Revolution w/ Joana Salém Vasconcelos

Editor's Choice Ep. 8: Agrarian History of the Cuban Revolution w/ Joana Salém Vasconcelos

Author: Alexander Scott November 15, 2024 Duration: 1:14:25

Historian Joana Salém Vasconcelos joins us to discuss her book Agrarian History of the Cuban Revolution: Dilemmas of Peripheral Socialism (Brill 2023; Haymarket 2023). 

Translated from Portuguese and originally published in Brazil in 2016, this meticulously researched study unpacks the complicated political and economic challenges Cuba has faced since its 1959 revolution, demonstrating why the sugar plantation economic structure in Cuba has persisted.  Drawing on diverse historical sources, Salém Vasconcelos narrates in detail the three dimensions of Cuban agrarian transformation during the decisive 1960s – the land tenure system, the crop regime, and the labor regime – and its social and political actors. She explains the paths and detours of Cuban agrarian policies contextualized in a labor-intensive economy that desperately needs to increase productivity and, simultaneously, promised widely to emancipate workers from labor exploitation. 

Joana Salém Vasconcelos is a full-time Visiting Professor at Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Brazil, and has a PhD in Economic History from the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.

Agrarian History of the Cuban Revolution: Dilemmas of Peripheral Socialism is available for purchase through Haymarket books and Brill:

https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2420-agrarian-history-of-the-cuban-revolution

https://brill.com/display/title/64107?language=en

For more information about Latin American Perspectives, our podcasts and guests, please contact  latampodcasts@gmail.com


In the space where academic rigor meets urgent political conversation, you'll find Latin American Perspectives. Hosted by Alexander Scott, this podcast extends the vital legacy of its namesake journal, a cornerstone of Latin American Studies for over four decades. It is a forum dedicated to untangling the complex social and economic forces that define the region. Each episode delves into discussions on capitalism's evolving structures, the enduring impacts of imperialism, and the practical realities of socialist movements across the Americas. The analysis is progressive, deeply researched, and grounded in the belief that understanding these systems is crucial for grasping contemporary realities. Listeners will encounter thoughtful debates and critical insights drawn from a tradition of scholarly activism. The podcast itself is produced as two distinct series: the main Latin American Perspectives episodes and the curated selections of Editors' Choice, together offering a multifaceted auditory journey into the political heart of the hemisphere. It’s for anyone who believes that the most compelling stories are those that examine power, resistance, and the ongoing struggle for equity. Tune in for a podcast that treats sound as a medium for serious, engaging scholarship and necessary dialogue.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 28

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