A Case Study of Local Community Development and Citizen Participation in Cuba: A Comprehensive Neighbourhood Transformation Approach

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13169/intejcubastud.11.2.0174
• Published date: 01 December 2019
• Date: 01 December 2019
• Pages: 174-199
• Author: Gloria Bonilla-Santiago
• Subject Matter: community development,local development,citizen participation,holistic,comprehensive,social inclusion

InternatIonal Journal of Cuban StudIeS 11.2 WInter 2019

ACADEMIC ARTICLE

A CASE STUDY OF LOCAL COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT AND CITIZEN

PARTICIPATION IN CUBA:

A COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBOURHOOD

TRANSFORMATION APPROACH

Gloria Bonilla-Santiago1

Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, USA

Abstract

The comprehensive neighbourhood transformation approach of planning in the

Havana Historian’s Office is a case study of local community development in the

capital of Cuba. The study is justified by its relevance and timeliness of the issues

found in community development and its implications in people and place wellbeing,

especially in the most disadvantaged sectors of Cuban society. It seeks to analyse the

improvement of life conditions in achieving social inclusion, citizen participation in

community. A theoretical analysis of community development and local development

within a community capital approach is provided. The experiences of the comprehensive

neighbourhood transformation workshops constitute an important contribution to the

local/community development process. The use of endogenous resources for managing

human, social, political, natural and cultural capital ensures sustainable community

development and innovative methodologies for community planning.

Keywords: community development, local development, citizen participation,

holistic, comprehensive, social inclusion

1 Gloria Bonilla-Santiago is a Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor, Graduate

Department of Public Policy and Administration at Rutgers, The State University of New

Jersey. She directs the Rutgers Community Leadership Center with 30 years of commu-

nity development experience. She is the author of numerous publication and three books.

A CASE STUDY OF LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 175

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Introduction

The comprehensive neighbourhood transformation approach of planning (taller

de transformación integral del barrio; TTIB) in the Havana Historian’s Office is

a case study of local community development in the capital of Cuba. The study

is justified by its relevance and timeliness of the issues found in community

development and its implications in people and place wellbeing, especially in the

most disadvantaged sectors of Cuban society. This study seeks to analyse the

improvement of life conditions in achieving social inclusion, citizen participation

and the extent of the community transformations.

From a theoretical viewpoint, the analysis is based on theories of community

development and local development within a community capital approach. In

Cuba, community development is viewed as a methodology and practice which

contributes to the comprehensive development and harmony of the population,

specifically in the psychosocial aspect, with an emphasis on their participation

(Ander Egg 1986). Local development is viewed as a sustainable, systematic,

growing, equitable, and environmentally friendly process that occurs within a

local/regional area. It aims to strengthen its economic, social, and cultural

dynamics, as well as the correlation between these dynamics, and respond to the

community and region’s demands (Guzón 2006). The community capital frame-

work informs the analysis of community and economic development from a

systematic perspective, identifying resources and types of capital assessment and

impact (Emery and Flora 2006).

The case study is structured around some considerations regarding commu-

nity development, local development, and community capital in order to define

the scope of the analysis. The contextual aspects allow us to understand the

development and scope of the experiences explored in the use of TTIB in the

Havana Historian’s Office. Finally, the work done highlights the methodologies

adopted, the community capital used, and the results obtained with an emphasis

on social inclusion and citizen participation.

The documents utilised are historical archives, among them, references related

to the issues, manuscripts, annual reports and audiovisual materials complemented

by primary sources, such as experts’ interviews and community observations.

Some Reflections on Community Development, Local

Development, and Community Capital

There is an important historical milestone in the evolution of the concept of

Community Development which occurred during the post-war period. This is

viewed in the stances taken by old major cities regarding its colonies and in