The third edition of this concise and comprehensive introduction to Cuba provides new material on the impact of the collapse of communism and the loss of economic assistance from the socialist countries, which has left the Revolution more vulnerable than ever. The Communist party, the armed forces, and key elites and institutions are analyzed in light of deepening economic and political difficulties. Changes in leadership and Castro’s dominant role are also discussed.The author argues that an incipient process of economic reform is at odds with Marxist ideology and that the failure to liberalize in order to retain political control suggests that the regime is seriously concerned about the emergence of political dissidence and other forms of opposition. He also assesses the prospects for peaceful or for violent political change and looks at how the legacy of socialism and the Revolution will shape Cuba’s future.