Visions of Power in Cuba

“Should be a required (and saddening) assignment. . . . Guerra reconstructs how Fidel Castro went about narrowing the range of civil liberties, autonomous institutions, and finally the society itself, until he completely dominated them.”—New York Review of Books

“A stimulating, original—and in some circles, provocative—contribution to the historiography of the Cuban revolution.”—International Affairs

“Combines a captivating narrative style, academic rigor and an invitation to rethink the very basics of the history and political culture of the Cuban revolution. . . . A unique and masterful piece of historical and sociological prose. . . . Captures you and does not let go. . . . Possibly one of the most significant of recent contributions to the historiography of the Cuban revolution.”—Havana Times

“Guerra’s efforts to develop [her] thesis are carefully constructed, thought-provoking, and persuasively presented.”—The Americas

“A major turning point in the study of the Cuban Revolution.”—Hispanic American Historical Review

“Guerra’s pathbreaking book pushes the historiography beyond simplistic and dogmatic generalizations and is an outstanding example of where new and innovative research should go.”—American Historical Review

“A creative and extraordinary book that dares to criticize the Cuban Revolution and its leadership.”—New West Indian Guide

“A unique book in the historiography of the Cuban Revolution.... Avoiding approaches common to [scholars] inside and outside the island, Guerra places herself in that rare space defined by a commitment to truth, at a time of generalized skepticism reinforced by post-structuralist unbelief. Writing against the grain, this book intervenes in a profound and impeccable manner in the debate over how to remember, read and give voice to those subjects who have been buried by the great undertakings of the State and those ”heroic figures“ of a certain monumental historiography.”—Diario de Cuba

“Essential for students of 20th-century Cuban and Latin American history. . . . Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.”—CHOICE

“An outstanding work — skillfully organized, effectively presented, and fully substantiated. Guerra’s fascinating analysis of the revolutionary process in Cuba should be a standard reference work within a short time.” —Franklin W. Knight, The Johns Hopkins University