Afro-Cuban religions and social welfare: Consequences of commercial development in Havana

Abstract

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the government of Fidel Castro has struggled to provide Cubans with health care, adequate housing, and social security. Decision making about these issues has been decentralized to involve the public activity of community self-help groups, especially in Havana's most marginal zones. Many such groups are rooted in Afro-Cuban religions, which since slavery times have operated as underground hubs of mutual support. Based on 18 months of fieldwork, three religious communities are examined as they build tentative relationships with state development institutions. Resulting projects set out to improve the quality of life of participants, but these as..