Just Published: Larry Catá Backer and Flora Sapio, "Popular Consultation and Referendum in the Making of Contemporary Cuban Socialist Democracy Practice and Constitutional Theory," University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review 27(1):37-130

I am delighted to announce the publication of Larry Catá Backer and Flora Sapio, "Popular Consultation and Referendum in the Making of Contemporary Cuban Socialist Democracy Practice and Constitutional Theory," University of Miami  International and Comparative Law Review 27(1):37-130.

The article may be of interest to those examining issues of comparative constitutionalism, or the emergence of alternative  conceptualizations of democratic expression that may be gaining traction in developing states, or more generally on Latin American studies issues. The article sketches the development of participatory constitutional practices  in Cuba, tracing their origins to the very beginnings of the current post-Revolutionary government in 1959. It suggests the possibility of constructing democratic governance from the baseline of non-Western models and notes both the difficulties of current theorizing of this emerging model, and the great distance that separates conceptualization from any sort of deeply embedded institutionalized practice.

The article is available for download (pdf) HERE. Flora and I tale this opportunity to thank Maia Dumbey, Editor in Chief, and the staff of the University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review for their excellent work, and especially for their care and attention, to this draft as it proceeded to publication.  It was our great pleasure to work with them. 

The Abstract and Table of Contents follow below.