Pablo Alonso Gonzalez – författare

The role of cultural heritage and museums in constructing national identity in postcolonial Cuba

Cuban Cultural Heritage explores the role that cultural heritage and museums played in the construction of a national identity in postcolonial Cuba. Starting with independence from Spain in 1898 and moving through Cuban-American rapprochement in 2014, Pablo Alonso González illustrates how political and ideological shifts have influenced ideas about heritage and how, in turn, heritage has been used by different social actors to reiterate their status, spread new ideologies, and consolidate political regimes.

Unveiling the connections between heritage, power, and ideology, Alonso Gonzalez delves into the intricacies of Cuban history, covering key issues such as Cuba’s cultural and political relationships with Spain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and so-called Third World countries; the complexities of Cuba’s status as a postcolonial state; and the potential future paths of the Revolution in the years to come. This volume offers a detailed look at the function and place of cultural heritage under socialist states.

A volume in the series Cultural Heritage Studies, edited by Paul A. Shackel



Publication of the paperback edition made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The role of cultural heritage and museums in constructing national identity in postcolonial Cuba

During Fidel Castro''s rule, Cuban revolutionaries coopted and reinterpreted the previous bourgeois national narrative of Cuba, aligning it with revolutionary ideology through the use of heritage and public symbols. By changing uses of the past in the present, they were able to shift ideologies, power relations, epistemological conceptions, and economic contexts into the Cuba we know today.

Cuban Cultural Heritage explores the role that cultural heritage and museums played in the construction of a national identity in postcolonial Cuba. Starting with independence from Spain in 1898 and moving through Cuban-American rapprochement in 2014, Pablo Alonso González illustrates how political and ideological shifts have influenced ideas about heritage and how, in turn, heritage has been used by different social actors to reiterate their status, spread new ideologies, and consolidate political regimes.

Unveiling the connections between heritage, power, and ideology, Alonso González delves into the intricacies of Cuban history, covering key issues such as Cuba''s cultural and political relationships with Spain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and so-called Third World countries; the complexities of Cuba''s status as a postcolonial state; and the potential future paths of the Revolution in the years to come. This volume offers a detailed look at the function and place of cultural heritage under socialist states.

Publication of the paperback edition made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This book explains how “natural wine” was made and not discovered by Spanish lawmakers, chemists, merchants, and theologians, showing how Spain consolidated a legal construct that normalized specific technical interventions while preserving the label natural.

The book argues that wine labeled as “natural” was not the preservation of a traditional product but the product of a legal fiction that allowed wines with additives to be normalized and protected under law. In doing so, the book explores the emergence and changing meanings of natural wine. Rather than providing a fixed definition, it analyzes how the boundaries of “natural” shifted from period to period. It shows how natural wine ended up being used in the historical– legal sense that crystallized in late nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century Spain and culminated in 1932. Through detailed archival research, the book explores debates around adulteration, chemistry, purity, and authenticity, using historical food studies and legal analysis as its framework. It introduces the Spanish case as a significant but overlooked moment in the broader European shift toward legally codified standards of food authenticity and quality. Drawing primarily on the work of Alessandro Stanziani and influenced by Bruno Latour’s perspective on scientific authority and socio-technical networks, the book bridges the fields of legal history, enology, and cultural politics. This historical analysis sheds light on contemporary controversies surrounding wine regulation, appellation systems, and the global natural wine movement.

The book will be of great interest to students and scholars of food and wine studies, legal and economic history, anthropology, science and technology studies, and European agrarian history.

This book explains how “natural wine” was made and not discovered by Spanish lawmakers, chemists, merchants, and theologians, showing how Spain consolidated a legal construct that normalized specific technical interventions while preserving the label natural.

The book argues that wine labeled as “natural” was not the preservation of a traditional product but the product of a legal fiction that allowed wines with additives to be normalized and protected under law. In doing so, the book explores the emergence and changing meanings of natural wine. Rather than providing a fixed definition, it analyzes how the boundaries of “natural” shifted from period to period. It shows how natural wine ended up being used in the historical– legal sense that crystallized in late nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century Spain and culminated in 1932. Through detailed archival research, the book explores debates around adulteration, chemistry, purity, and authenticity, using historical food studies and legal analysis as its framework. It introduces the Spanish case as a significant but overlooked moment in the broader European shift toward legally codified standards of food authenticity and quality. Drawing primarily on the work of Alessandro Stanziani and influenced by Bruno Latour’s perspective on scientific authority and socio-technical networks, the book bridges the fields of legal history, enology, and cultural politics. This historical analysis sheds light on contemporary controversies surrounding wine regulation, appellation systems, and the global natural wine movement.

The book will be of great interest to students and scholars of food and wine studies, legal and economic history, anthropology, science and technology studies, and European agrarian history.

Natural wine is a captivating and rapidly evolving phenomenon in the world of viticulture and winemaking. This movement, characterized by minimal intervention, low or no chemical additives, and a focus on terroir-driven expressions of grapes, has ignited a passionate following among wine enthusiasts, sommeliers, and eco-conscious consumers. It''s more than just a beverage; it embodies a philosophy that aligns with contemporary sustainability and wellness trends. Though natural wine enthusiasts have produced ample coverage of the natural wine movement in books, essays and films, academics have lagged behind in their examination of this global phenomenon. 

In Uncorked: Negotiating Science and Belief in the Natural Wine Movement, scholarly discussion reaches across disciplines to offer valuable insights for researchers, producers, wine enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in this movement. Exploring the relevance of natural wine offers a unique lens through which to examine the intersection of tradition, innovation, environmental stewardship, and the evolving tastes of modern consumers. Through the stories of the winemakers, the science behind natural fermentation, and the cultural and historical context, this book aims to provide a comprehensive look at how this movement is shaping the future of wine and our relationship with the natural world. Each essay from a thought leader in their respective field delves deep into the historical, ecological, and sociocultural dimensions of natural winemaking, shedding light on its ancient roots, ecological practices, and the philosophical underpinnings that drive the movement. Discussions of regulatory and consumer aspects will also elucidate the practical considerations of making and selling natural wine. 

Uncorked: Negotiating Science and Belief in the Natural Wine Movement is a groundbreaking edited book that offers a comprehensive and scholarly exploration ofthe world of natural wine. This interdisciplinary volume brings together leading experts in fields ranging from enology and sensory studies to anthropology and philosophy, creating a rich tapestry of insights into the production, consumption, and cultural significance of natural wine. Academics, winemakers and wine enthusiasts alike will be illuminated by this volume.