Puerto Rico in Crisis

Catalog description

This course examines the history and consequences of U.S. colonial rule in Puerto Rico since 1898. Colonial rule has generated periods of growth and crisis. But crises have been the most prevalent feature. Hurricanes, earthquakes, war, massive migration, pro-independence protests and armed uprisings, and frequent economic depressions have shaped the Puerto Rican experience. Through lectures, audio and video documentaries and readings, students will develop an understanding of how the policies of the federal government and the local government have shaped the economic and social well-being of the people of Puerto Rico. The course will study the array of factors that resulted in massive Puerto Rican migration to the United States, and the role of the diaspora in supporting Puerto Rico it is efforts to overcome natural catastrophes, humanitarian crises, and poverty. Finally, the course will critically analyze how social movements and political forces, particularly those that promote self-determination and government accountability, impact public policy, particularly about Puerto Rico's territorial status.