there was more to Cuba than simply capitalism. Corbett’s strength is his
narrative-style depiction of everyday life in Cuba during the 1990s, but his
analysis falters considerably in this shortsighted claimof a capitalist Cuba.
The research these three writers have done has increased the amount of
information available on the Special Period in Cuba. Nonetheless, I believe tha t
Castro’s reforms generated a mixed economy in Cuba during the Special Period. In
my view, the actions of the Cuban people during this crisis did, in fact, belie their
leader’s assertions that Cuba would not change its socialist character. Often, I
will show, Cubans chose the pursuit of capitalist goals over socialist idealism—a
behavior that formed this mixed economy.