Decolonizing Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico occupies a paradoxical place in the American imagination: denied both statehood and sovereignty, yet not formally recognized as a colony. This course examines Puerto Rico as a case study in U.S. colonialism, tracing how its ambiguous political status, economic struggles, and cultural resistance reveal the structures of American empire. Through interdisciplinary readings in history, political science, law, anthropology, and cultural studies, students will analyze debates over statehood, independence, and sovereignty, asking what true decolonization would require in Puerto Rico and beyond.