The Politics of Nationalism and Status in Puerto Rico

Abstract

Over the last several decades, nationalist movements in liberal democracies have challenged their community's relationship with the state. One such case that has drawn relatively little attention is Puerto Rico. A peculiar feature of Puerto Rican politics is that powerful nationalism coexists with several distinct status options: a reform of the current Commonwealth, statehood (becoming an American state), free association and independence. This article examines the various sources for Puerto Rican nationalism and discusses the relationship between nationalism and each of the status options. It also explains why none of the options has succeeded in gathering majority support amongst Puerto Ricans and why, therefore, the constitutional status quo has so far remained on the island.

How do you solve a problem like Maria? The politics of disaster response in Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas

“…The diaspora of Puerto Rico should be considered when analyzing racial resentment and deliberation over aid. Puerto Rican islanders who move to the mainland historically tend to move to more liberal states and urban areas with a greater proportion of Democratic congressional representation, despite the fact that Puerto Ricans living off the mainland trend ideologically conservative (Lecours & Vézina, 2017). Politicians of both parties in states now experiencing high rates of Puerto Rican migration, notably Florida, compete for Puerto Rican votes once they are on the mainland (Gonzalez‐Sobrino, 2019; Sutter & Hernandez, 2018).…”

“…As a result of these institutional constraints and colonial status, Puerto Rico faces accessibility barriers to federal disaster aid debates. The lack of electoral incentives for engaging in Puerto Rican concerns by federal, congressional politicians (Lecours & Vézina, 2017) and restricted political protections for Puerto Rico are apparent in the ongoing bankruptcy debates which limits access to financing and governance, as well as representation in financial decisions by the territory. This has continued even as congress ignores six referendums in Puerto Rico supporting statehood for the island (Peón, 2020).…”

Reframing resilience as resistance: Situating disaster recovery within colonialism

“…These are heavily enmeshed with movements for independence because of their common vision for sovereign politics, land, and resources (Atiles-Osoria, 2014). As such, Puerto Rican resistance to US domination has evolved greatly, though for many it still represents a liberatory movement to end colonial domination and assert Puerto Ricans positive identity and dignity (Lecours & Vézina, 2017).…”

Naomi Klein’s The Battle for Paradise: Puerto Rico Takes on the Disaster Capitalists

“…Through the Jones Act, Puerto Ricans were given American citizenship (and, therefore, the potential capacity to move to the mainland and immediately become "equal" to continental U.S. citizens when they did). (Lecours and Vézina, 2017;Vézina, 2018), although the referendum on ELA, because it was approved by a majority of the population, allowed the United States to have the territory removed from the United Nations list of non-autonomous territories. This historical and political information is not provided by Klein.…”