Abstract
This article examines the persistent colonial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico, highlighting the paradox of a nation that champions democracy while maintaining colonial rule over millions of disenfranchised citizens. Over 120 years of exploitation, neglect, and subordination have shaped Puerto Rico’s status as the largest U.S. territory, where residents live in stark inequality compared to those on the mainland. Despite the veneer of sovereignty created by the U.S. through legal frameworks, Puerto Rico exemplifies a sophisticated and undemocratic form of modern colonialism, recently termed "new legal colonialism." This approach uses legal structures to maintain economic and strategic dominance while projecting an image of progress and autonomy.
Focusing on developments in the past two decades, the article explores the escalation of economic exploitation under this framework, demonstrating how corporate revenue extraction—facilitated by the U.S. federal government—continues a colonial pattern established in the early 20th century. Through a historical, cultural, political, and legal analysis, it reveals how innovative forms of economic subjugation are perpetuating Puerto Rico's colonial status and exacerbating its socio-economic challenges.
Recommended Citation
Ediberto Román and Ernesto Sagás,
A Puerto Rico for Whom? Race, Neglect, and Empire,
20
Nw. J. L. & Soc. Pol'y.
96
(2024).
https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/njlsp/vol20/iss1/4
