Cuban Historiography in the 1960s: Revisionists,Revolutionaries and the Nationalist Past

This article examines nationalist historiography in revolutionary Cuba, focusing in particular on the relationship between pre‐revolutionary ‘revisionist’ histories and the revolutionary historiography produced after 1959. Despite agreement among the revolutionaries on the need for new histories to respond to the needs of the revolutionary age, the dominant nationalist historiography of the Revolution repeated many of the myths of the ‘bourgeois’ histories of the past. In the 1960s, however, several historians working at the margins of academia emerged to challenge the nationalist myths perpetuated by both their republican counterparts and by their Marxist adversaries in the University School of History. Yet despite many significant historical re‐interpretations undertaken during the Revolution, many of the sacred cows of Cuban nationalism remained firmly on their plinth.     

Chachawarmi: Rhetorics and Lived Realities

Latin America's turn away from neoliberalism and adoption of decolonising alternatives to development has been spearheaded—nowhere more so than Bolivia—by indigenous movements. The gender ideology of chachawarmi is part of this decolonisation programme, but has been criticised for disguising gendered exploitation. These tensions are explored by looking at, in Escobar's words, ‘the concrete struggles within particular communities’. Based on long‐term research in rural Bolivia, this article situates the chachawarmi ideal in the multiple influences on the recreation of gender identities, and considers the complex ways in which chachawarmi as mobilised politically may influence gendered power.     

Losses and Gains

Living as an expatriate in China,one becomes a connoisseur of cultural differences.My Chinese friends are anxious to educate me in the subtleties of "face," in China’s "years of hu-miliation," and in the fact     

Politicians and Civil Servants: Unfinished Business—The Next Steps Report,Fulton and the Future*

This article discusses the origins of the Efficiency Unit's ‘Next Steps’ Report, published 20 years ago which recommended the executive agency as an organisation for much of the British government. Within five years more than half the civil service had been transferred to work in agencies but the other major recommendation of the report – improving the management skills of the senior civil service received far less enthusiastic attention. From the Fulton Report, the Next Steps report to the Capability Reviews of current Whitehall the same problem is highlighted: there is still too little management competence within the public service despite the endorsement of the need for improvement by successive governments.     

From 'My Vote' to 'The Real Alternative': Selling the Liberal Democrats

As the third party in British politics, a compelling message is crucial for the Liberal Democrats. Overcoming a prevailing sense of a wasted vote is key—achieved by, we argue, demonstrating political potency. This article explores the synergy between the Liberal Democrat leader and the message; the relationship of each election message to the political reality in which the party finds itself; and the role of polling in messaging. We explore what is—and is not—a message, and the role of negative messaging by the Liberal Democrats since 1992. We consider the limitations of messaging and the lack of control that a third party has over its message. In conclusion, we reflect on what the lessons learnt by the Liberal Democrats over the last four elections may mean for the messaging at the next general election.     

Pajama Headaches

You may recall the media reported at the beginning of this year a strange new global phenomenon-the pajama ban.It started in Cardiff,in Wales in the United Kingdom,in January.A Tesco supermarket in the St Mellon area of Cardiff escorted an indignant Elaine Carmody off its premises after she violated a new dress code prohibiting people from shopping in their nightwear.     

Shanghai Keeps Its Cool

For a city about to receive an estimated 70 million visitors,Shanghai is remarkably composed as it nears the opening of the World Expo.Walking along the Bund and strolling through the former French Concession on a Saturday afternoon in spring,it would be easy for a foreign visitor not to realize what is going on.There are notices in hotels apologizing in advance to guests for any inconvenience caused by enhanced security measures.Taxis advertise hotlines for visitors having trouble in communicating with their drivers in English.But the air of suppressed hysteria which characterized Beijing in the run-up to the Olympics is absent.Shanghai is looking forward to a party,but is far too sophisticated for any display of overexcitement.     

No Talking Shops?

Western commentators on China's National People's Congress(NPC) and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC) are not always kind.Disparaging remarks about "rubber stamp organizations," "talking shops" and "showcases for photographs of ethnic minority costumes" tend to be the order of the day.