Cuba: The Test of Time by Jean Cuba: The Test of Time by Jean Stubbs, Latin America Bureau, Lon- Stubbs, Latin America Bureau, Lon-don, 1989, distributed by Monthly don, 1989, distributed by Monthly Review Press, $17.50 (cloth), $8 (pa- Review Press, $17.50 (cloth), $8 (paper). per). JeanJean Stubbs presents a highly sym- Stubbs presents a highly sympathetic but critical precis of the Cuban pathetic but critical pr6cis of the Cuban revolution after 30 years. By examin- revolution after 30 years. By examining consumer issues, human rights, ing consumer issues, human rights, economic rectification, revolutionary economic rectification, revolutionary ethicsethics and Cuban internationalism the and Cuban internationalism the author goes a long way toward explain- author goes a long way toward explaining the “logic” of the Hemisphere’s ing the “logic” of the Hemisphere’s first socialist state. Useful statistics and first socialist state. Useful statistics and chronology are an added plus. chronology are an added plus. HiddenHidden Agenda, Springboard Software Agenda, Springboard Software Inc., available for Macintosh and IBM Inc., available for Macintosh and IBM PC’sPC’s and compatibles, $59.95. and compatibles, $59.95. Most computer games are for dull Most computer games are for dull minds and fleet fingers. Those that are minds and fleet fingers. Those that are political assume an ethical universe to political assume an ethical universe to the right of Attila the Hun. Those with the right of Attila the Hun. Those with intellectual pretensions have the graphic intellectual pretensions have the graphic appeal of the original NACLA newslet- appeal of the original NACLA newsletterter (eight pages mimeographed and (eight pages mimeographed and stapled). Hidden Agenda breaks the stapled). Hidden Agenda breaks the mold. mold. VisuallyVisually exciting, intellectually and exciting, intellectually and politically challenging, this game puts politically challenging, this game puts youyou in the Presidente’s seat where you in the Presidente’sseat where you formform governments, face financial crises, governments, face financial crises, and makeand make political and economic deci- political and economic decisions thatsions that count. Working against time count. Working against time andand looming disasters you guide the looming disasters you guide the nation of Chimerica (Guatesalvahonara- nation of Chimerica (Guatesalvahonara-gua, really)gua, really) by allying or not with local by allying or not with local peasants,peasants, workers, capitalists, Cuban workers, capitalists, Cuban emissaries,emissaries, Soviet bureaucrats orimpe- Soviet bureaucrats or imperialistrialist Gringos. Gringos. The reality factor is strong. Report The reality factor is strong. Report readers might feel frustrated by their readers might feel frustrated by their inabilityinability to seize the commanding to seize the commanding heights of the Chimerican economy and heights of the Chimerican economy and institute conflict-free socialism, but then institute conflict-free socialism, but then so wereso were the Sandinistas. the Sandinistas. Tinker Guide:Tinker Guide: Latin American and Latin American and CaribbeanCaribbean Policy and Scholarly Policy and Scholarly ResourcesResources in Metropolitan New York in Metropolitan New York edited by Ronald G. Hellman and Beth edited by Ronald G. Hellman and Beth Kempler Pfannl, Bildner Center for Kempler Pfannl, Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies, CUNY, Western Hemisphere Studies, CUNY, 1988, 217 pp., $27.50 (cloth), $13.95 1988, 217 pp., $27.50 (cloth), $13.95 (paper). (paper). Any Latin America scholars who Any Latin America scholars who wonder whether New York has much to wonder whether New York has much to offeroffer will find this resource guide an will find this resource guide an eye-opener. Its over 200 entries include eye-opener. Its over 200 entries include universities,universities, libraries, non-profit organi- libraries, non-profit organizations, research centers, chambers of zations, research centers, chambers of commerce and government offices, commerce and government offices, which maintainwhich maintain specialized collections specialized collections on the region. on the region. El Salvador: Critical Choices, Na- El Salvador: Critical Choices, National Labor Committee in Support of tional Labor Committee in Support of DemocracyDemocracy and Human Rights in El and Human Rights in El Salvador (15 Union Square, New York, Salvador (15 Union Square, New York, NY 10003), 16 pp., $1.00 (paper). NY 10003), 16 pp., $1.00 (paper). The National Labor Committee, The National Labor Committee, which is composed of the presidents of which is composed of the presidents of 2121 national and international unions, national and international unions, has played a vital role in voicing U.S. has played a vital role in voicing U.S. labor’s concern for their fellow union- labor’s concern for their fellow unionists in Central America. This, their third ists in Central America. This, their third report, is a resounding condemnation report, is a resounding condemnation of the abuses of elemental rights suf- of the abuses of elemental rights suffered by trade unionists in El Salvador. fered by trade unionists in El Salvador. Clear, concise, detailed. Clear, concise, detailed. Private Organizations with U.S. Private Organizations with U.S. Connections: El Salvador, Guate- Connections: El Salvador, Guate-mala, Honduras, The Resource Cen- mala, Honduras, The Resource Center (Box 4506, Albuquerque, NM ter (Box 4506, Albuquerque, NM 87196), 1988. 52 pp., 75 pp., 75 pp., 87196), 1988, 52 pp., 75 pp., 75 pp., $15 each (paper). $15 each (paper). These three short books are excel- These three short books are excellent reference works, done in the style lent reference works, done in the style that gave The Resource Center its repu- that gave The Resource Center its reputationtation for timeliness. The bulk of each for timeliness. The bulk of each book is a directory with vital statistics book is a directory with vital statistics and a brief description of the organiza- and a brief description of the organizations. Each also features an introduc- tions. Each also features an introductory essay with an analytical overview. tory essay with an analytical overview. Poor Central America, at the mercy of Poor Central America, at the mercy of so many well-intentioned gringos. so many well-intentioned gringos. Ecuador: Fragile Democracy, by Ecuador: Fragile Democracy, by David Corkill and David Cubitt, Latin David Corkill and David Cubitt, Latin America Bureau, 1988, 114 pp., $7.50 America Bureau, 1988, 114 pp., $7.50 (paper). (paper). This survey of Ecuadorian politics This survey of Ecuadorian politics continues the Latin America Bureau’s continues the Latin America Bureau’s traditiontradition of providing rigorous and of providing rigorous and readable overviews. Written previous readable overviews. Written previous to the election of social democrat Ro- to the election of social democrat Ro-drigo Borja, its analysis is centered on drigo Borja, its analysis is centered on thethe “Andean Thatcherism” of former “Andean Thatcherism” of former presidentpresident Leon Febres Cordero (1984- Le6n Febres Cordero (1984- 88). 88). The More Things Change…: Human The More Things Change…: Human Rights in Haiti, Americas Watch/Na- Rights in Haiti, Americas Watch/National Coalition for Haitian Refugees! tional Coalition for Haitian Refugees/ Caribbean Rights, 1989, 126 pp. $10 Caribbean Rights, 1989, 126 pp. $10 (paper). (paper). The report covers the period from The report covers the period from NovemberNovember 1987 toJanuary 1989, when 1987 to January 1989, when Haiti suffered under four different Haiti suffered under four different governments, each seemingly as abu- governments, each seemingly as abusive as the last. For the most part, the sive as the last. For the most part, the U.S. government has kept a careful U.S. government has kept a careful silence regarding Haiti’s nightmare. silence regarding Haiti’s nightmare. U.S. Ambassador Brunson McKinley U.S. Ambassador Brunson McKinley told one fact-finding delegation that, told one fact-finding delegation that, “Human rights violations are endemic “Human rights violations are endemic to the Haitian tradition to the Haitian tradition…. …. WeWe may not may not like it, but it is their tradition.” like it, but it is their tradition.” Ambassador McKinley added, Ambassador McKinley added, “Anyone”Anyone can make a statement about can make a statement about human rights… [buti repetition becomes human rights… [but] repetition becomes boring.” Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. boring.” Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. Welcome to my Contri! by Geoffrey Welcome to my Contri! by Geoffrey Fox, Hudson View Press (2643 Broad- Fox, Hudson View Press (2643 Broadway, New York, NY 10025), 164 pp., way, New York, NY 10025), 164 pp., $6.95 (paper). $6.95 (paper). New York writer Geoffrey Fox has New York writer Geoffrey Fox has written a delightful book of short sto- written a delightful book of short stories which achieves the difficult task of ries which achieves the difficult task of translating Latin American experience translating Latin American experience into a language that even the gringo can into a language that even the gringo can understand. Political fiction that is both understand. Political fiction that is both serious and humorous is a wonderful serious and humorous is a wonderful find. find. C.L.R.C.L.R. James: The Artist as Revolu- James: The Artist as Revolutionary by Paul Buhle, Verso, 1988, tionary by Paul Buhle, Verso, 1988, 197 pp. $35 (cloth), $13.95 (paper). 197 pp. $35 (cloth), $13.95 (paper). Paul Buhle’s intellectual and politi- Paul Buhle’s intellectual and politicalcal biography of the late C.L.R. James biography of the late C.L.R. James is a welcome addition to the history of is a welcome addition to the history of radicalism in the Americas. A critical radicalism in the Americas. A critical assessment of James’ political, theo- assessment of James’ political, theoretical and literary work places him retical and literary work places him among the finest Marxists to have writ- among the finest Marxists to have written in the English language. ten in the English language. The author gives special emphasis The author gives special emphasis to James’to James’ critiques of high and popular critiques of high and popular culture and his leading role in the Pan- culture and his leading role in the Pan- African movement. Buhle’s unique African movement. Buhle’s unique knowledgeknowledge of the U.S. Left rescues of the U.S. Left rescues James’ position in the history of post- James’ position in the history of post-warwar socialism from that of obscure socialism from that of obscure footnotefootnote to one of prophetic, if prema- to one of prophetic, if premature, visionary. ture, visionary. Bolivia Bulletin, bimonthly publica- Bolivia Bulletin, bimonthly publicationtion of CEDOIN (Casilla 20194, La of CEDOIN (Casilla 20194, La Paz,Paz, Bolivia), 4 pp., $10/year. Bolivia), 4 pp., $10/year. Bolivia Bulletin is the English-lan- Bolivia Bulletin is the English-languageguage version of Informe R, the re- version of Informe R, the respected Bolivian weekly publication of spected Bolivian weekly publication of news analysis.news analysis. Now in its fifth year. the Now in its fifth year, the English version has established itself English version has established itself asas an excellent source of information an excellent source of information on the politics of this much-ignored on the politics of this much-ignored country.country. Its newsletter format makes it Its newsletter format makes it accessible to all. accessible to all.
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