{"id":41343,"date":"2025-03-22T12:37:48","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T19:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=41343"},"modified":"2025-03-22T12:37:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-22T19:37:48","slug":"cuba-through-the-lens-of-post-modernism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/cuba-through-the-lens-of-post-modernism\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba Through the Lens of Post-Modernism"},"content":{"rendered":"

We arrived in Old Havana on a Saturday evening, only to find the city gripped by a nationwide power outage that had begun the previous day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The streets\u2014full of rubble and trash, as always\u2014were (we were told) unusually quiet, with none of the regular bustling activity you would expect in a city on a Saturday evening.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Most restaurants, bars, and stores were closed. Yet, pockets of resilience were evident: we discovered a bar operating thanks to a loud generator, where a live band played Cuban music, drawing a crowd that danced to the beat, sang enthusiastically, drank mojitos, and momentarily escaped the frustrations of the blackout. This crowded little bar, spilling out into the street, was a bright spot in a blighted city.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A few blocks further on, we saw several extension cords coming out of a doorway and nearby windows, with many people crowded around waiting while they charged their electric devices. This place was either running a generator or was\u2014temporarily\u2014a lone spot of electric power in an otherwise powerless city. Such acts of resilience can be seen as local narratives of survival in the face of a failing grand narrative of state support.<\/span><\/p>\n

These glimpses into Havana’s contradictions set the stage for a journey into a society where postmodern themes of resilience, adaptation, and disillusionment are palpable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Defining Postmodernism<\/span><\/h3>\n

To understand the complexities of contemporary Cuban society, it’s helpful to consider the lens of postmodernism. In his book <\/span>Explaining Postmodernism; Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault,<\/span><\/i> Stephen R.C. Hicks, explains that modernism was founded on the philosophy of the Enlightenment and post-modernism essentially stands in opposition to modernism. As Hicks states,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Postmodernism’s essentials are the opposite of modernism’s. Instead of natural reality\u2014anti-realism. Instead of experience and reason\u2014linguistic social subjectivism. Instead of individual identity and autonomy\u2014various race, sex, and class groupisms. Instead of human interests as fundamentally harmonious and tending toward mutually-beneficial interaction\u2014conflict and oppression. Instead of valuing individualism in values, markets, and politics\u2014calls for communalism, solidarity, and egalitarian restraints. Instead of prizing the achievements of science and technology\u2014suspicion tending toward outright hostility. [1]<\/span><\/p>\n

This opposition manifests in several key ways. First, postmodernism challenges the modernist belief in objective truth, replacing it with “anti-realism\u201d or <\/span>constructed truth<\/b>. Where modernism posits that there is a natural reality that can be understood through reason and observation, postmodernism questions the very existence of an objective reality, suggesting instead that <\/span>reality is socially constructed<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, postmodernism shifts the focus <\/span>from<\/b> individualism to group identity<\/b>. While modernism emphasizes individual autonomy and self-determination, postmodernism highlights the influence of social categories like race, sex, and class in shaping individual experiences and perspectives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, postmodernism critiques the modernist emphasis on reason, instead prioritizing “linguistic social subjectivism.” Postmodern thinkers argue that <\/span>language and social context <\/b>play a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the world, rather than universal reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hicks emphasizes the radical nature of this shift. He notes, \u201cOnce reason is in principle severed from reality, one then enters a different philosophical universe altogether. And you have an entirely new set of values, rules, ideas, and so on.” [2]\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Cuban context, these postmodern themes become relevant when considering the disillusionment that arises from the gap between the revolution’s promises and the people’s lived realities. [If a \u201cnutshell\u201d version of Cuba\u2019s history would be helpful to understand some of this, please see the end of this article.]<\/span><\/p>\n

State-owned vs. Private Businesses<\/span><\/h3>\n

Postmodernism’s influence can be observed in various facets of Cuban society, presenting both challenges and opportunities for leadership. For example, up until two years ago, the government permitted people to be self-employed but not to own their own businesses. Almost everything was under centralized control of the state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When that changed, and innovative and enterprising Cubans could own their own businesses, it began an economic transformation. Now, 15% of the GDP comes from these private businesses. [3]<\/span><\/p>\n

This has led to a clear difference in economic realities and service standards, with private businesses often offering better resources and service than state-run enterprises.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, when you visit a state-run restaurant you never know if you’ll be able to get staples like coffee or a Coke. At a private business, the resources are almost always much better. Why? Because most of them are funded by relatives in America. After all, you need capital to start a business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cubans have a lot to learn about service, but they are indeed learning. As we experienced multiple times during our visit, some at a private business (like hotels and restaurants) are hard-working and provide excellent service. Others still have the mentality of the state-run businesses. The social contract with the government is this: You’ll get your paycheck if you show up and pretend to work. Owners and workers at private businesses have more incentive to improve customer service.<\/span><\/p>\n

This disparity reflects a postmodern fragmentation of economic experience, where different groups operate under different sets of rules and expectations. It also illustrates a shift away from the grand narrative of a unified socialist economy toward multiple economic narratives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cubans demonstrate resilience and adaptation, ingenuity and community spirit in the face of their daily hardships. The fuel shortage, for example, creates significant challenges for workers. One of my taxi drivers, let\u2019s call him Jose, proudly told me he’d filled up the tank the night before. I asked him if that meant he didn’t work when he runs out of gas and he said yes, sometimes for two or three days. That’s devastating to individuals. They may be eager to work, but simply not have the resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So Many Contradictions\u2026<\/span><\/h3>\n

Cuba is full of contradictions. For example, the beauty of the country exists alongside the decay. On the one hand is the crumbling infrastructure\u2014both visible and virtual. On the other hand, we visited a beautiful white sand beach with exquisite, turquoise-colored water and pelicans diving for fish. The stark contrast between the country’s natural beauty and its decaying infrastructure reflects a <\/span>postmodern sense of fragmentation and the breakdown of unifying narratives<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The failing healthcare system adds another layer of complexity, challenging the grand narrative of the revolution’s achievements. The Cuban government has always been praised for its free healthcare. But the medical system is failing because the embargo prevents them from getting medicines and medical supplies.<\/span><\/p>\n

The iconic old-time cars from the mid-twentieth century are both an anachronism and a sign of great ingenuity and creativity. How the Cubans manage to piece together random parts to keep those cars running is a real marvel! (They are often called \u201cFrankenstein cars\u201d for that reason.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There is also a generational contrast.<\/strong> Different generations in Cuba hold varying perspectives and experiences, shaping their understanding of the past, present, and future. Older Cubans have lived through the revolution and while some may still believe in its promises, others have come to recognize the failure of communism. Younger Cubans, on the other hand, have grown up primarily experiencing hardship and scarcity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The desire for a different future is evident, as seen in the aspirations of individuals like my other taxi driver, Juan, who dreams of going to New York; yet he is resigned to the fact that he never will. These conversations highlighted for me the tension between local realities and global desires.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This generational divide is significant because it impacts how people perceive the current realities and envision the future of their country. While older generations may have experienced a more modernist Cuba in the early years of the revolution, younger Cubans are growing up in a society increasingly influenced by postmodern realities, marked by economic struggles, limited opportunities, and a sense of disillusionment. The result is a clash between the grand narrative of the revolution and the lived narratives of younger Cubans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion: A Call to Engaged Compassion<\/span><\/h3>\n

Cuba’s complexities, viewed through a postmodern lens, reveal a society navigating the tension between grand narratives and lived realities.<\/strong> Hicks’s analysis of postmodernism helps us understand the disillusionment arising from the gap between the revolution’s promises and the people’s daily struggles. The emphasis on competing narratives, the fragmentation of economic experiences, and the resilience of the Cuban people in the face of hardship all reflect key postmodern themes.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this context, Christian leadership can play a vital role. We visited with leaders of two different Christian organizations and found that they are actively involved in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable, providing material support, and fostering community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One Christian leader to whom we spoke shared about their work with the elderly, children, and other vulnerable groups. Another Christian leader described their efforts to support the local community, including disaster relief, building homes, and providing food and medical supplies. These actions exemplify Christian values of compassion and service.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Christian leaders, and really, all leaders, must also engage with the deeper issues at play. In a postmodern context where truth is often contested and narratives clash, leaders are called to:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Embrace humility:<\/b> Acknowledge the limitations of any single perspective and be open to dialogue and learning.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Prioritize compassion:<\/b> Focus on the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable, as demonstrated by the work of the leaders we were privileged to meet.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Foster community:<\/b> Create spaces for dialogue, reconciliation, and the building of shared understanding.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Speak truth to power:<\/b> While navigating complex political realities, find ways to advocate for justice and human dignity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The Cuban experience serves as a reminder of the importance of engaged compassion and the need for leaders to navigate the complexities of a postmodern world with wisdom, humility, and a commitment to serving others.<\/span><\/p>\n

    ======<\/p>\n

    Here’s a “nutshell” version of Cuba’s history:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Early 20th Century:<\/b> Cuba gains independence from Spain in 1902, but the United States exerts significant influence, particularly through the Platt Amendment. (“Approved on May 22, 1903, the Platt Amendment was a treaty between the U.S. and Cuba that attempted to protect Cuba’s independence from foreign intervention. It permitted extensive U.S. involvement in Cuban international and domestic affairs for the enforcement of Cuban independence.”) [4]<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Mid-20th Century:<\/b> Cuba experiences political instability and the rise of authoritarian leaders.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • 1959:<\/b> Fidel Castro leads a revolution that overthrows Fulgencio Batista’s brutal regime, establishing a communist state.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • 1960s:<\/b> The Cuban government nationalizes industries and strengthens ties with the Soviet Union. The United States imposes a trade embargo on Cuba, which continues to this day.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Cold War Era:<\/b> Cuba becomes a key player in the Cold War, supporting communist movements in other countries.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • 1990s:<\/b> The collapse of the Soviet Union causes a severe economic crisis in Cuba, known as the “Special Period.”<\/span><\/li>\n
    • 21st Century:<\/b> Fidel Castro eventually hands over power to his brother Raul Castro.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Late 20th and early 21st Century:<\/b> The US maintains its embargo, but there are fluctuations in the enforcement and engagement policies.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Obama Era:<\/b> The Obama administration initiates a period of rapprochement with Cuba, easing some restrictions and re-establishing diplomatic relations.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Trump Era:<\/b> The Trump administration reverses many of Obama’s policies, increasing restrictions and tightening the embargo again.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • This back-and-forth in US policy creates instability and challenges for Cubans, hindering economic development and infrastructure improvements due to limited trade and investment. The embargo’s restrictions have a deleterious effect on the Cuban people, limiting their economic opportunities and hindering the country’s ability to modernize its infrastructure, including roads, buildings, and the electrical grid.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Cuba continues to navigate these challenges while maintaining its communist system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n

       <\/p>\n

      1 – Stephen R.C. Hicks, <\/span>Explaining Postmodernism; Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault<\/span><\/i>, Expanded Edition (China: Ockham\u2019s Razor Publishing, 2011), 14.<\/span><\/p>\n

      2 – Hicks, 40.<\/span><\/p>\n

      3 – Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, EU Ambassador. Personal conversation, March 19, 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

      4 – \u201cPlatt Amendment\u201d, National Archives. Accessed March 22, 2025. https:\/\/www.archives.gov\/milestone-documents\/platt-amendment<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      We arrived in Old Havana on a Saturday evening, only to find the city gripped by a nationwide power outage that had begun the previous day.\u00a0 The streets\u2014full of rubble and trash, as always\u2014were (we were told) unusually quiet, with none of the regular bustling activity you would expect in a city on a Saturday […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2967,1764],"class_list":["post-41343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-dlgp03","tag-hicks","cohort-dlgp03"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/197"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41343"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41349,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41343\/revisions\/41349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}