Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998
From: Charles McKelvey <•••@••.•••>
Subject: Re: cj#765> Cuban democracy: a strategic vision for revolution
Charles Bell queried:
> >An interesting exposition of a system with apparent roots in the
> >community. But still, a couple of questions:
> >
> >--why should slates be picked by incumbents? Sounds like built-in
> >perpetuation of existing models, and hostile to all progress.
> >
> >--if the Communist Party is the only party and yet does not dominate the
> >political process, what is its function? Why is its continued existence
> >necessary? Why doesn't it just wither away?
The slates are not developed by incumbents, but by electoral
commissions formed by newly elected assemblies. Slates are presented,
rather than competing candidates, to ensure that all sectors and interests
in the jurisdiction are represented.
The function of the Communist Party is to provide a critical
reflection on the on-going practical development of the revolution and to
provide vision in regard to the development of the revolution in light of
existing conditions. In Cuba, it does so without legal authority, but
with moral authority.
I have not thought of the Cuban theory and practice of democracy as a
model for the developed or core nations of the world economy, because the
Cuban revolutionary project was developed in the context of its historic
national liberation struggle. They have developed something that works in
their situation. My orientation is that the social movements in the
industrialized world should understand the signigicance of the Cuban
revolutionary project in overcoming the legacy of colonialism and
developing democratic structures. The movements should seek to develop
forms of cooperation and mutual support with Cuba. On the other hand, I
view the Cuban case as being a model for the formerly colonized nations that
pertain to the periphery and semiperiphery in the world economy. Not that
its structures should be exported, but that many aspects of its
revolutionay economic and political structures are applicable to other
formerly colonized underdeveloped nations.
Although I am not a part of your group, I would enthusiastically
endorse the idea of a Revolutionary Leadership Conference in Cuba. Cuba
has many resources to enhance such a conference. In 1996, I formed a
non-profit corporation, the Center for Development Studies (CDS), to
sponsor educational projects in Cuba. Through CDS, I could perhaps
provide some support for such a conference.
Thanks, Richard, for including me in the discussion.
Regards,
Charles McKelvey
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