Camagüey.- Ediciones Universidad de Camagüey has added to its catalog the book "Cultural Identity and Territorial Development Planning: Guidelines and Associated Terms," by Doctor in Economic Sciences Maydelín Olazábal Arrabal, a work that provides theoretical and methodological tools.
This new publication, available in digital format, stands out for its relevance in a national context that promotes territorial management from a multidisciplinary perspective.
The volume is structured in two parts. The first presents a set of guidelines and examples for planning territorial development with a cultural approach; the second includes a glossary of terms that explains fundamental concepts and relationships between identity and development at the municipal level.
Regarding the central objective of the book, Olazábal noted that it aims to "socialize the results of research that broadens the visibility of local cultural identity expressions as an endogenous resource for territorial development and their potential integration into municipal strategies."
Originally from Nuevitas, a coastal territory with high industrial production marked by economic, social, environmental, and demographic transformations, the author has witnessed the changes that have created gaps in the cultural integrity of the municipality. This scenario, where productive dynamics and changes in infrastructure impact the identity expressions of the settlement, constitutes the essential motivation for the research underpinning this work.
The text also aligns with calls from international organizations that promote the incorporation of culture into development planning and is consistent with Cuban policy reflected in Decree 33/2021, which recognizes the cultural component as part of the strategic management of territorial development.
Olazábal expressed gratitude to institutions in the municipality of Nuevitas and to the University of Camagüey itself for their support during the preparation of this volume, which represents a significant contribution to the academic debate on culture and territory.
