Puerto Rico: The Trials of the Oldest Colony in the World [Paperback]

Jose Trias Monge (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0300076185 | ISBN-13: 978-0300076189 | Publication Date: February 8, 1999

The island of Puerto Rico has a severely distressed economy, is one of the most densely populated places on earth, and enjoys only limited political freedom. As a United States commonwealth, it is still treated by Congress as one of the last remaining colonies in the world. In this book a distinguished Puerto Rican legal scholar and former government official discusses the island's century-old relationship with the United States and argues that the process of decolonization should begin immediately.

Jose Trias Monge first describes the Spanish rule over Puerto Rico and then traces the impact of American colonial policies there, comparing them with those in the Pacific and the British, French, and Dutch experiences in the Caribbean. He argues that the large amounts of money the United States has given to Puerto Rico have not been productive: not only has the island become frightfully dependent on United States munificence but more than 60 percent of Puerto Rican families still live below the poverty line. Politically, the situation is even worse. The United States has granted Puerto Rico limited self-government but has ignored the wishes of the Puerto Rican people -- as expressed in two plebiscites -- for greater autonomy, since it cannot make up its mind which decolonization option best serves American interests. Trias Monge discusses the various options of Puerto Rican independence, statehood, and an enhanced commonwealth status and urges the United States to end its present policy of inattention and inaction.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Although Puerto Rico is technically a territory of the United States, José Trias Monge prefers the unvarnished term "colony" to describe his homeland's difficult position. Spain ceded control of the island to the United States more than 100 years ago, and in that time Washington has continually avowed its desire to respect the wishes of the Puerto Ricans while systematically limiting its sovereignty. Only three options remain open to the island: Puerto Rico can remain a territory with greater sovereignty, become an independent nation, or join the U.S. as the 51st state. Yet frequent plebiscites held in the territory have resolved nothing. primarily due, Monge asserts, to the U.S.'s reluctance to truly allow Puerto Rico to become self-governing before any final decision is made about the territory's status. Though Monge is quick to point out how Puerto Rico has benefited from its relationship with the U.S., he is unwavering in his support of the idea that "Nobody has the right to govern another: it is as simple as that." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Monge presents a pithy account of Puerto Rico's troubled 500-year history while also setting out a carefully reasoned case for a new approach to the perennially unresolved issue of Puerto Rico's status vis-á-vis the United States.... Monge's reasoning is relentless. Yet one leaves this thoughtful book with the unpleasant suspicion that logic alone, no matter how compelling, will not be enough to rouse the United States Government to unstick this policy problem. -- The New York Times Book Review, Thomas Carothers --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (February 8, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300076185
• ISBN-13: 978-0300076189
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exposes the "cupones por megatones" US citizenship theory, March 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Puerto Rico: The Trials of the Oldest Colony in the World (Hardcover)

Essentially, Trias Monge is not the most appropriate person to demand additional autonomy for Puerto Rico (he was responsible for the systematic use of dossiers by the Puerto Rican police to gather intelligence against those who precisely demanded in the past the same things that he's demanding now), but he has a point. Puerto Rico has become a military colony, exchanging "cupones" (entitlements) for "megatones" (no need to explain here). Faust would be proud; Trias' point is precisely that. Puerto Ricans are nominal US citizens, furthering annexation would require a change in the island's cultural mindset. An eye opener, should be required reading for US Congressmen and Puerto Ricans alike.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Overview of the PR Status Question, January 11, 2005

By 

R. R. Costas Jr. (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Puerto Rico: The Trials of the Oldest Colony in the World (Paperback)

This is a relative short (less than 200 pages), straightforward and direct book on the most important subject facing PR for 100 years. The author gives us a great background on the evolution of the status question (independence, statehood or commonwealth) for PR since Spain ceded it to the U.S. after the Spanish American War of 1898. Other lands that were ceded after the war (Philippines, Cuba) were granted more autonomy and even independence than PR was. But why? The author tries to answer that.

The bigger issue is that the Commonwealth status that PR and the US enacted in 1952, while a step forward, is not really the "true" associated free state that PR envisioned for itself. While PR generally makes its own laws and governs itself, in the things that it cannot do and the ability of Congress to abolish some laws, the island can be defined as a colony in the purest sense of the word. The author goes on to state many times that it is not an issue of dislike toward the Americans, something so fashionable these days. In fact, he clearly states that whether PR chooses to be independent or perfects the commonwealth status, a close association with the U.S. would be a very desirable thing. The U.S. has generally been a very positive influence in the economic development of the island.

However, the island was told early on by the U.S. that when the day came and it was ready, the U.S. would allow it to choose its destiny in terms of self-government and would honor it...a "promise" that has not been kept. In my opinion, with 400 years of Spanish rule in the background, I don't think Puerto Ricans would ever assimilate culturally to being a state. They would never let that happen. An improved associated free state is the likeliest outcome.

The question of at least not being a "colony" anymore is the main issue of the book and it is such a central and clear problem for the residents of the island that the heads of all three main parties (independence party included) have all come out against the current dangling status.

The author doesn't make an overt case for statehood or an improved commonwealth status. I think he does a good job of stating the possible advantages and disadvantages of either scenario. It would be a very difficult decision and drawn-out process, but it must be undertaken in order to gain a better sense of self-respect for both the US and PR.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The truth at last!, September 8, 2009

By 

El Coquí (Philly) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puerto Rico: The Trials of the Oldest Colony in the World (Hardcover)

Great book will open your eyes as to what has happened in the past and how it is still an on going issue.