Education, Citizenship, and Cuban Identity

286 Pages·2016·2.094 MB·English

by  Rosi Smith (auth.)

Education,
Citizenship, and
Cuban Identity
Rosi Smith
Education, Citizenship, and Cuban Identity

Rosi   Smith
Education,
Citizenship, and
Cuban Identity
Rosi   Smith
University of Nottingham
Nottingham, UK
ISBN 978-1-137-58305-5 ISBN 978-1-137-58306-2 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/978-1-137-58306-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016940636
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2 016
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For my mother, Kathy Smith, who taught me my own revolutionary values.

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
My fi rst thanks must go to Professor Antoni Kapcia. Not only have I relied,
throughout the writing of this book and the thesis that preceded it, on his
knowledge, thoroughness and wisdom, but I have also been continually
touched by his unstinting kindness and patience.
While grateful to all my interviewees, special mention is necessary of
Rita González, Enrique Gómez Cabezas, Wilfredo Mederos García and
Alexei Padilla Herrera, without whose help and advice this book would
have been impossible. Finally, and most importantly, my thanks go to the
young people of Cuba, who generously welcomed me into their homes,
social circles, frustrations and dreams.
vii

C
ONTENTS
1 Introduction: Learning Your Place 1
2 Education and Ideology in Cuba 11
3 Tomorrow’s Heroes 59
4 The Emergente Generation 119
5 The Lost Generation 169
6 Conclusion: Cuban Citizenship Education in Context 221
Appendix A: Record of Youth Interviews 239
Appendix B: Record of Non-Youth Interviews
(Experts and Commentators) 247
Bibliography 249
Index 269
ix