IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH IDENTIDADES 7 ENGLISH | Página 137

elements and embracing those that unify
is enough to achieve this so desired unity. The answer is “NO,” because various
other factors intervene, particularly the
inclusion of the focus work in Deliberative Democracy (DD) puts on action and
work. DD has served the MUAD and
each of its member organizations so well
in their efforts to identify the strengths,
opportunities, threats, and weakness of
the organizations themselves, and their
work and action plans. Far from reflecting weakness and imperfection, selfreflection and perfectibility allows for
the making of collective decisions and
bringing the organizations closer to citizens, for their greater participation and
interrelation. Community work has been
a priority for organizations like the Citizens’ Committee for Racial Integration
(CIR), Progressive Arc (PARP), Cuban
Liberal Solidarity Party (PSLC), Nuevo
País Women’s Platform (PFNP), and
Afro+ (AfroMás). In their actions, they
have achieved a balance in measuring
and evaluating their past, present, and
future work, and also for making joint
decisions in solving conflicts and differences. Even though the DD focus and
application in the aforementioned organizations have not gone on for more than
four years, one can already appreciate
that the methodology has been accepted,
that there is a search for consensus and
relationship with citizens from different
communities, and that decision making
is being done via deliberation, as a way
to legitimate it. Citizens have realized
that a collective perspective centered on
agreement regarding fair conditions,

based on sensible and impartial criteria,
can be achieved through deliberation and
mediation. In Cuba, not even the most
basic rights are respected; there is no
freedom of movement, expression, and
association. Human rights are deliberatively violated and citizens are given no
participation in making decisions about
their social, political, and cultural life.
This explains why more than a few have
decided to struggle peacefully for the
establishment of a democratic system
and freedoms; they are relying on DD as
a mandatory model based on public reflection among citizens. The road is long
and bumpy, and there is still a long way
to go. Political conditions in Cuba are
very tense and unfavorable; citizens who
think differently from the governing elite
are persecuted, threatened, repressed,
and often incarcerated. Thus, work in
communities becomes much more difficult. Organizations that work on behalf
of democracy, respect for rights, and
freedoms must use all their cunning to
reach citizens. This has been done
throughout the country, even in the remotest communities: workshops with
topics ranging from human rights and
democracy, to regional problems and the
country’s current situation, to information technology and film debates have
been offered. Thus, regional and community problems are identified, as well
as ways to solve them and what leadership is needed, all this via a participatory
methodology grounded in DD’s focus.
The arrival of a truly democratic system
in Cuba will depend on our rise and
contribution in the country’s political

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