Catholic Church

The Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965 initiated the translation of the Roman Catholic liturgy into languages other than Latin, spurring numerous ethnic musical settings which have seemingly departed from the unitive nature of a universal Latin liturgy. Following an examination of the musical history of the Latin liturgy, this document examines the changes introduced into music for the Roman Catholic liturgy after Vatican II, discussing how different parishes have subsequently incorporated the teachings of the Council with regard to music for the liturgy. The study then addresses specific post-Vatican II musical settings for the liturgy through an analysis of examples from different cultural backgrounds and a discussion of their positive usage and unifying effects within Catholic communities, in order to demonstrate that through their inclusion of diverse musical and cultural styles united with fidelity to Church teaching, post- Vatican II settings can continue the Church's catholic (universal) mission.

From 1974-1990, more than thirty of the world's authoritarian regimes transitioned to democracy in what Samuel Huntington terms the third wave. Sixteen years following the conclusion of the third wave of democratization, the Castro regime remains the official government of the Cuban state. I examine what factors led to the continued existence of the Castro administration. Several factors account for the prolonged tenure of the Castro administration. Fidel was able to increase his political power through the monopolization of information. The ability of the Castro regime to maintain authority was further exacerbated as a result of the country's dependence on Soviet financing, the repositioning of a weakened Catholic Church, contradictory foreign policies of external actors such as the United States, and a powerless civil society.