The Legal Construction of Identity: The Judicial and Social Legacy of American Colonialism in Puerto Rico (Law and Public Policy: Psychology and the Social Sciences) [Hardcover]

Efren R. Ramos (Author), Efren Rivera Ramos (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1557986703 | ISBN-13: 978-1557986702 | Publication Date: January 2001 | Edition: 1

The book discusses the legal constructs and governing norms involved i n the struggle for identity, specifically a Puerto Rican identity, one which claims rights to United States citizenship and participation wh ile also asserting a separate cultural identity. The law as a crucial arbiter of self-determination and self-perception is also analyzed in relation to Puerto Ricans striving to form a distinct national identit y. This book will be of interest not only to social scientists and leg al scholars but also to anyone interested in the symbiotic relationshi p between law and society.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 273 pages
• Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA); 1 edition (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557986703
• ISBN-13: 978-1557986702
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,657,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Look at Truth, Justice and the American Way, August 18, 2005

By 

Edward P. Matos "edmatos52" (Laredo, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Legal Construction of Identity: The Judicial and Social Legacy of American Colonialism in Puerto Rico (Law and Public Policy: Psychology and the Social Sciences) (Hardcover)

"Legal Construction of Identity: The Judicial and Social Legacy of American Colonialism in Puerto Rico" by Efren Rivera Ramos is a fascinating book on the legal and historical analysis on the colonization of Puerto Rico.

This book is not for the casual reader on the topic of Puerto Rico. However, the book provides a wealth of knowledge for those interested in the colonization of Puerto Rico and its effects on its political, economical, and cultural identity. How the American colonization of Puerto Rico has affected the relationship between them ? a bond that has remained fragile from its very beginning is well depicted by the author. Ramos writes of the United States ideology of expansionism that was so prominent during the nineteenth and the twentieth century. As a professor of law, he examines how the American judicial system was utilized in the creation of colonial Puerto Rico and the subjection of its people.

Ramos examines the Foraker Act of 1900; the Jones Act of 1917; and the Insular Cases, whereby the Supreme Court of the United States instituted the framework for applying the US Constitution to the Philippines, Cuba, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The topic of American citizenship imposed on Puerto Ricans in 1917 is covered in detail along with both positive and negative consequences of that action. The struggles that Puerto Rico confronted after American colonization and the difficulties it continues to face today in maintaining its cultural identity are well emphasized by Ramos.

"Legal Construction of Identity: The Judicial and Social Legacy of American Colonialism in Puerto Rico" is an intensely written and convincing book. A worthy and welcome blend of judicial, political, and social history. It is intelligently researched and written - it's an eye-opening piece of work that entices the reader to think about the phrase "truth, justice and the American way". This book deserves its place on the shelves of the best of Puerto Rican historical literature.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colonialism, May 9, 2002

By 

mario ramos-mendez (Carolina, P.R. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Legal Construction of Identity: The Judicial and Social Legacy of American Colonialism in Puerto Rico (Law and Public Policy: Psychology and the Social Sciences) (Hardcover)

This book is a must.Two thumbs up!The author demostrate with scholar accuracy the colonial reality of the people of Puerto Rico.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to read, March 6, 2001

By 

"hanssebstian" (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Legal Construction of Identity: The Judicial and Social Legacy of American Colonialism in Puerto Rico (Law and Public Policy: Psychology and the Social Sciences) (Hardcover)

A book that should be read by those who are interested in understanding Puerto Rico's present-day colonial reality.