Puerto Rico's Statehood Movement

(Hardback)

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Against a historical backdrop whose origins go back to the US's acquisition of Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American War, the author examines in close detail the evolution of the statehood movement in that territory. . . . This volume will interest mostly professional scholars, graduate students, and general readers attuned to the Puerto Rican statehood issue and to such matters as ethnicity and constitutional development in societies still governed from a distant metropole- in this case, from Washington DC. The book is generally well written and readable. It contains a useful bibliography on the Puerto Rican statehood movement and a servicable index. Choice Melendez presents the first comprehensive treatment of the statehood movement in Puerto Rico from the nineteenth century to the present day. Broad in scope, the discussion encompasses every major aspect of annexationism--programs, ideology, politics, changing support for statehood within the United States, and the influential role of the New Progressive Party--and offers a groundbreaking comparative analysis of statehood activities, parties, and conceptions throughout the history of the movement. Throughout, Melendez places particular emphasis on major changes and transformations in the movement, enabling the student of Puerto Rican politics to construct a more comprehensive picture of the evolution of Puerto Rican annexationism than has yet been available.

Reviews

A revision of Melendez's doctoral dissertation. Against a historical backdrop whose origins go back to the US's acquisition of Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American War, the author examines in close detail the evolution of the statehood movement in that territory. He focuses particularly on the politics of the prostatehood New Progressive party since the early 1950s--in the Eisenhower era when Alaska and Hawaii entered the union. Even though the people of Puerto Rico are still unable to build a consensus in favor of statehood, the question continues to stimulate interest at the highest levels of the US governvemt. Soon after taking office as president in January 1989, George Bush signaled his preference that Puerto Rico become our fifty-first state. This volume will interest mostly professional scholars, graduate students, and general readers attuned to the Puerto Rican statehood issue and to such matters as ethnicity and constitutional development in societies still governed from a distant metropole- in this case, from Washington DC. The book is generally well written and readable. It contains a useful bibliography on the Puerto Rican statehood movement and a servicable index.-Choice
Originally written as a dissertation, this book provides a historical and political analysis of annexationist movement in Puerto Rico, since 19th century. It studies and evaluates the strength gained by annexationist forces beginning in the 1950s and the emergence of a pro-statehood party, the Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP-New Progressive Party). This study explores various approaches to statehood, among them class/economy integration, class conflict and cultural assimilation approaches. Highly recommended.-LA RED/THE NET
"Originally written as a dissertation, this book provides a historical and political analysis of annexationist movement in Puerto Rico, since 19th century. It studies and evaluates the strength gained by annexationist forces beginning in the 1950s and the emergence of a pro-statehood party, the Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP-New Progressive Party). This study explores various approaches to statehood, among them class/economy integration, class conflict and cultural assimilation approaches. Highly recommended."-LA RED/THE NET
"A revision of Melendez's doctoral dissertation. Against a historical backdrop whose origins go back to the US's acquisition of Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American War, the author examines in close detail the evolution of the statehood movement in that territory. He focuses particularly on the politics of the prostatehood New Progressive party since the early 1950s--in the Eisenhower era when Alaska and Hawaii entered the union. Even though the people of Puerto Rico are still unable to build a consensus in favor of statehood, the question continues to stimulate interest at the highest levels of the US governvemt. Soon after taking office as president in January 1989, George Bush signaled his preference that Puerto Rico become our fifty-first state. This volume will interest mostly professional scholars, graduate students, and general readers attuned to the Puerto Rican statehood issue and to such matters as ethnicity and constitutional development in societies still governed from a distant metropole- in this case, from Washington DC. The book is generally well written and readable. It contains a useful bibliography on the Puerto Rican statehood movement and a servicable index."-Choice

Author Bio

EDGARDO MELENDEZ is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.