For theories of political succession and charismatic authority, the almost half-century long rule of Fidel Castro presents an extraordinary test case since Fidel in July 2006 handed over power "temporarily" to his deputy and brother Raúl. On the background of Max Weber's work on charismatic...

While traditional theories of legitimacy have focused on the nation-state, authoritarian regimes and democracies alike seek legitimation not only in the domestic realm but also from international sources. This paper argues that the degree to, and the form in, which they do so depend on the...

In the debate over the role of civil society under authoritarian regimes, the spread of transnational web-based media obliges us the rethink the arenas in which the societal voice can be raised - and heard. Taking the case of state-socialist Cuba, a diachronic comparison analyzes civil society...

The "Cuban safety-valve theory" explains sustained survival of Cuban socialism in part through the high levels of emigration, following Hirschman's model of "exit' undermining 'voice". The article argues that this remains insufficient in two important ways. Taking a closer look at the crisis...