For over 50 years, a heated debate has raged over developments in Cuba, dealing with everything from ideology, politics, and the economy to independence and sovereignty. Today, transformations taking place on the island have inspired a renewed interest in the country.

Processes of social and economic change are often a long march into the unknown. They require significant effort to build consensus on key issues and to define appropriate pace and scope. They are usually painful and face resistance from those who stand to lose the most. However, Cuba is nonetheless embracing the route of social and economic change in the context of a failing world economy; a long-standing conflict with the United States, the world's largest economy and its closest market; an aging populace; no major international support from key institutions; no theoretical references; a difficult relationship with its diaspora; and mounting problems at home resulting from years of economic crisis.