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The History of Puerto Rico: Identity Formation and Nationalism
In this project, I traveled through a timeline from the days the island became a Spanish dominion until the 1950s when insurgency arose to separate Puerto Rico from the United States and start the process of nation-building. This process never came to fruition due to the clashes between the local nationalist elite and the diaspora in the US. There are various theoretical threads that try to explain identity-forming and the rise of nationalism in Puerto Rico. I summarize these strands and make room for future implications of the case of Puerto Rico.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2020
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23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 9, 2020
Captivating
A fantastic and deep narrative of how politics and culture shaped present day Puerto Rico. The book covers an in depth analysis of the growth of the nation for four centuries and the arguments and discussions presented by the author makes it an engaging read.
Historical paradoxes are challenging to explain as the truth is often hidden under political agendas. However the detailed research and the political frameworks presented by the author outline most of the scenarios and give the reader a complete picture. It sparks the imagination of the reader and personally made me think about the progress through turmoil of my country.
A catchy comprehensive read which I highly recommend!
A fantastic and deep narrative of how politics and culture shaped present day Puerto Rico. The book covers an in depth analysis of the growth of the nation for four centuries and the arguments and discussions presented by the author makes it an engaging read.
Historical paradoxes are challenging to explain as the truth is often hidden under political agendas. However the detailed research and the political frameworks presented by the author outline most of the scenarios and give the reader a complete picture. It sparks the imagination of the reader and personally made me think about the progress through turmoil of my country.
A catchy comprehensive read which I highly recommend!
October 23, 2020
Learn something new
I did not know if the goings on in Puerto Rico and this book gives a Wonderful insight and knowledge. Even on a few facts that I found astonishing such as being influenced by others who I did not consider influential outside of there own country.
Definitely learnt something new and would highly recommend if you want to learn more of the happenings etc. of Puerto Rico.
I did not know if the goings on in Puerto Rico and this book gives a Wonderful insight and knowledge. Even on a few facts that I found astonishing such as being influenced by others who I did not consider influential outside of there own country.
Definitely learnt something new and would highly recommend if you want to learn more of the happenings etc. of Puerto Rico.
October 4, 2020
Terrific detailing of political events that shaped a country
Val Karanxha has lucidly detailed the political conflicts that have been affecting Puerto Rico in her book aptly named Contested Identities Split Loyalties. She has traced the political history of the island from the time it was ruled by the Spanish, right upto 1950 when there was an attempt to disassociate the island from being an unincorporated territory of the US. Val's indept research on the subject is evident in the detailed manner in which she has covered the salient points depicting the struggle between the Puerto Rican nationalists that want to preserve national identity and the populist party who wanted to be part of the Commonwealth and preserve cultural identity. This book gave me a lot of insights into how the island's culture and demographic landscapes were shaped by the displacement and assimilation of the native people first by the Spaniards, followed by the US. I strongly recommend this book for people interested in Political Science and Sociology. It is a "must read" for people interested in improving their general knowledge and awareness.
Val Karanxha has lucidly detailed the political conflicts that have been affecting Puerto Rico in her book aptly named Contested Identities Split Loyalties. She has traced the political history of the island from the time it was ruled by the Spanish, right upto 1950 when there was an attempt to disassociate the island from being an unincorporated territory of the US. Val's indept research on the subject is evident in the detailed manner in which she has covered the salient points depicting the struggle between the Puerto Rican nationalists that want to preserve national identity and the populist party who wanted to be part of the Commonwealth and preserve cultural identity. This book gave me a lot of insights into how the island's culture and demographic landscapes were shaped by the displacement and assimilation of the native people first by the Spaniards, followed by the US. I strongly recommend this book for people interested in Political Science and Sociology. It is a "must read" for people interested in improving their general knowledge and awareness.
October 21, 2020
A Rich Historical Treasure
I love history and have always wondered about Puerto Rico and its affiliation as a commonwealth of the United States. I know a lot about the Indigenous history and sovereign nations within the mainland, but very little about the colonization of the Spanish settlers within Puerto Rico. The author takes us from the beginning of the Taino Indians, who inhabited the land to the arrival of the Spaniards, to colonization and slavery — which the cohabitation and interracial marriages aided in shifting cultural identities. I am saddened that assimilation made the native languages of the island extinct. The author explains in detail, the political shifts of Puerto Rico’s independence and fight to preserve their cultural identity, which I appreciated learning. The author does not disappoint on taking the reader through the political and cultural history of how Puerto Rico became a commonwealth of the United States. The book is a must read for anyone who loves history, especially how colonization affected cultural identity within the US and for commonwealth states and sovereign territories.
I love history and have always wondered about Puerto Rico and its affiliation as a commonwealth of the United States. I know a lot about the Indigenous history and sovereign nations within the mainland, but very little about the colonization of the Spanish settlers within Puerto Rico. The author takes us from the beginning of the Taino Indians, who inhabited the land to the arrival of the Spaniards, to colonization and slavery — which the cohabitation and interracial marriages aided in shifting cultural identities. I am saddened that assimilation made the native languages of the island extinct. The author explains in detail, the political shifts of Puerto Rico’s independence and fight to preserve their cultural identity, which I appreciated learning. The author does not disappoint on taking the reader through the political and cultural history of how Puerto Rico became a commonwealth of the United States. The book is a must read for anyone who loves history, especially how colonization affected cultural identity within the US and for commonwealth states and sovereign territories.
June 28, 2022
I'm so glad that I picked this book on my trip to Puerto Rico and it helped me make sense of everything I saw and everywhere I visited. I started my trip at a coffee plantation in the middle of the mountains and rainforests, and in that region I saw graphic symbols created by the Tainos. I then visited the city of Ponce in the south and learned from the book how Ponce de Leon followed the footprint of Christopher Columbus and rooted slavery, colonization and economic development in the island as the first Spaninard governor. In Old San Juan, the magnificent fortresses showed how the Spanish had to battle for 400 years to control Puerto Rico as the door of the Caribbean. Then when I visited the city of San Juan, it rang a bell when I saw the name of Luis Munoz Rivera engraved on the capitol building. On my flight back, I started reading the last chapter about Luis Munoz Marin at the Luis Munoz Marin airport.
Just the perfect book that I looked for before my trip.
Just the perfect book that I looked for before my trip.
October 7, 2020
This was such an informative book! I was like Oh wow when reading this for sure! Reading this book alone you can tell that the author knew exactly what she was writing, and wanted to have researched! Being able to help readers understand. Seriously if you are in college it would be such an interesting read if you wanted to go deeper into a political science field. It was like she was able to go into subjects that were hard to talk about and make it comfortable to talk about in her book. Puerto Rico is a place I have read about, and seen pictures of my whole life. Reading about the country is such an eye-opener. I am so happy that I was able to read this for sure. Bravo to the author. It was well-formatted and easy to follow as well!
October 8, 2020
An eye opening read.
As a British national and citizen I first came across the island of Puerto Rico from Sunny Hostin on the View and her being a descendent. Never truly understanding how the states worked in the United States, this book has given me a clear understanding of how the History of Puerto Rico has carved and moulded the people of that island. Val’s clear in-depth look into this topic has made my own interest in history spark and look at Puerto Rico and it’s people with a new understanding with what their island has had to go through to get where it is today. A very interesting read.
As a British national and citizen I first came across the island of Puerto Rico from Sunny Hostin on the View and her being a descendent. Never truly understanding how the states worked in the United States, this book has given me a clear understanding of how the History of Puerto Rico has carved and moulded the people of that island. Val’s clear in-depth look into this topic has made my own interest in history spark and look at Puerto Rico and it’s people with a new understanding with what their island has had to go through to get where it is today. A very interesting read.
October 19, 2020
As a Brit I've always been curious about the status of Puerto Rico, on one hand I see the high towers of the financial institutions and on the other, a poor nation seemly unsupported by the US.
Contested Identities Split Loyalties examines the culture and history of Puerto Rico from the 15th Century to present day and how it arrives today as a nation that has enjoyed the economic abundance the US has given, but who are dissatisfied by the lack of national identity.
This is a detailed, well research academic book, clearly written with a lot of passion. I hope that Juan Mari Bras is right and that Puerto Rico will one day become independent.
Contested Identities Split Loyalties examines the culture and history of Puerto Rico from the 15th Century to present day and how it arrives today as a nation that has enjoyed the economic abundance the US has given, but who are dissatisfied by the lack of national identity.
This is a detailed, well research academic book, clearly written with a lot of passion. I hope that Juan Mari Bras is right and that Puerto Rico will one day become independent.
November 6, 2020
Interesting, well-researched and enlightening
I’m not a historian but I do enjoy reading books about countries I visit. I spent two weeks in Puerto Rico a few years ago. I really enjoyed my stay and had the curious feeling that the island both is and isn’t part of the US. This book has helped me understand much better how the complex Puerto Rican identity emerged over the long and fascinating history of this part of the world. It’s a serious, scholarly piece of work, which is, however, really accessibly and engagingly written, also for readers who are not themselves researchers in this area.
I’m not a historian but I do enjoy reading books about countries I visit. I spent two weeks in Puerto Rico a few years ago. I really enjoyed my stay and had the curious feeling that the island both is and isn’t part of the US. This book has helped me understand much better how the complex Puerto Rican identity emerged over the long and fascinating history of this part of the world. It’s a serious, scholarly piece of work, which is, however, really accessibly and engagingly written, also for readers who are not themselves researchers in this area.
November 29, 2020
An excellent historical perspective, expertly researched and related that speaks to the many factors affecting the trajectory of the Puerto Rican identity. The author dug deep, evaluating centuries of history, including influences from the Spanish crown and religion, culture and races, and considered influences from elitist groups and the impact of key historical figures and US politics. It reads as a well thought out position paper, backed by detailed historical facts and conclusions of the key contributors that played fundamental roles in the shaping of Puerto Rican loyalties and identities. It was a truly enjoyable trek through history.
October 10, 2020
An informative and historical read
I only hear Puerto Rico as a country, haven't gone there and haven't yet seen in reality, but through reading this ebook , and the in detailed right words captured about the country and history, I already have a good information about it.
This is good for educational purposes especially those who likes historical events in Puerro Rico, I can say that the Author did a lot and good researchs and delivered it well. Good Job.
I only hear Puerto Rico as a country, haven't gone there and haven't yet seen in reality, but through reading this ebook , and the in detailed right words captured about the country and history, I already have a good information about it.
This is good for educational purposes especially those who likes historical events in Puerro Rico, I can say that the Author did a lot and good researchs and delivered it well. Good Job.
October 13, 2020
Very interesting.
For anyone like me who lives for history, this book will not disappoint. Information overload in the best way possible. It was well written with some amazing recordings on how Puerto Rico came to be.
It grabbed and kept my attention and I throughly enjoyed it.
K K Weakley
For anyone like me who lives for history, this book will not disappoint. Information overload in the best way possible. It was well written with some amazing recordings on how Puerto Rico came to be.
It grabbed and kept my attention and I throughly enjoyed it.
K K Weakley
April 24, 2021
This book helped me understand the history and identity of the Puerto Rican people. I have always been curious about why they were not pushing for statehood. John Leguizamo's rant against the Spanish Invaders now makes complete sense. This book was offered on KU, but I chose to buy a copy because I am likely to want to refer to it more than once.
October 4, 2020
Val has really researched the subject and given a lucid account of the political conflicts in the country. This book is a "must read" for students of Political Science, Sociology and general public who are looking to enrich their knowledge and awareness
October 12, 2020
I really liked this book, it's very informative, kudos to the author, she knows her stuff. I learned things about Puerto Rico that I wasn't taught in school. very interesting, well written book. Great Job
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews