I recently read anthropologist Hope Bastian’s article Emprendedores and Luchadores: Cuban Entrepreneurship, Socialist State Retrenchment, and the Normalization of Racialized Exclusion, and found it super interesting. Here’s a summary and some of my biggest takeaways:

First of all, in her article, Bastian explores the nuanced transformation of Cuban entrepreneurship from a frowned‑upon “necessary evil” in the 1990s to an officially embraced engine of economic development by the 2000s. But as Bastian compellingly argues, this shift isn’t enough to dismantle enduring inequalities, particularly when it comes to racialized exclusion.

Batisan further explains that the early reforms that legalized self-employment in Cuba were pragmatic responses to economic collapse, but they came with heavy moral baggage. Independent workers were stigmatized as betraying revolutionary values and succumbing to capitalist individualism. It wasn’t until about a decade later that the state began celebrating these “emprendedores” as vital contributors to the national economy, yet the rhetoric of inclusion masked deeper tensions.

What struck me most is Bastian’s observation that only certain entrepreneurial actors were welcomed. Racial and class bias continued to shape who could succeed. She highlights how the promise of entrepreneurship remained largely out of reach for Afro-Cuban and lower‑income entrepreneurs. 

My biggest Takeaways: 

• Policy vs. Practice: Legalization alone does not guarantee equity. Racial and socioeconomic hierarchies persisted despite reform.
  
• Moral Framing Matters: Public discourse is powerful; labeling some entrepreneurs as morally suspect enabled selective inclusion.
  
• Incomplete Success: Celebrated entrepreneurship may actually reinforce systemic inequality unless paired with conscious efforts toward inclusion.
  

Ultimately, Bastian’s work serves as a timely reminder that economic transformations, even when portrayed as progressive, can perpetuate injustice without intentional measures to ensure equity. This case study invites broader reflection on reform efforts worldwide: in emerging markets and post‑socialist societies alike, we must ask, “Who is really included, and who remains sidelined?”. For more information and the full study, I encourage you to check out this link.