ABSTRACT
The left’s conceptions of democracy have long suffered from a Manichean liberalism-socialism opposition. The world-systemic discourses of liberalism, democracy, socialism, and nationalism tended to become reified and polarized in the power struggles of the Cold War. Democracy, conceived in terms of “one citizen-one vote” electoral participation, seemed the best way of integrating the rebellious working classes without jeopardizing the capitalist nature of the economy. Orthodox left perspectives from the traditions of statist socialism tend to define democracy in the broadest of terms, extending beyond the formal political arena to include the substantive goals of economic equality and social justice. The orthodox perspective in Cuba is informed by an overriding concern with order, governability, and the avoidance of radical ruptures in the political system. Some of the intellectuals interviewed in Mexico expressed a certain complacency about accepting the limitations of liberal democracy. Liberal perspectives in Cuba stress the need for a clearer delineation of legislative powers and oversight.
