POLS-A499 Independent Study Politics of Fall 2018 Professor Sean A. Cain, Ph.D. Scain at loyno dot edu Office: Monroe Hall 272

Course Overview This independent study serves to inform and raise questions on the politics of Puerto Rico at a time of crisis for the island territory. It examines the forces shaping political status of the territory within the since its acquisition from in 1898 and the constitutional status and social and political identities of . With a major assignment involving the planning a conference on Puerto Rico’s political, economic, and humanitarian crises and the production of content for this event, this independent study’s output will serve to educate and motivate the Loyola community to ask questions of America’s relationship to Puerto Rico.

Learning Outcomes By the end of this course, you will have an understanding of the following: 1. The ’s political status within the United States 2. The similarities and difference between Puerto Rico and other U.S. insular territories 3. Differing perspectives on the constitutional status of Puerto Rico and its people 4. The political conflict within Puerto Rico and the U.S. government over which of these perspectives to prioritize 5. The politicization of cultural and racial differences between Puerto Ricans and mainland Americans 6. The conflicts over national identity and political status within Puerto Rico and the U.S. government 7. The contested meaning of political representation for Puerto Ricans 8. The contested perspectives and Puerto Rican responses to handling recent economic and humanitarian crises, especially under PROMESA and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria

Required Books (note that other required readings listed in the schedule below will be emailed): Malavet, Pedro A. 2004. America's : The Political and Cultural Conflict between the United States and Puerto Rico. Publisher: NYU Press ISBN-13: 978-0814757413 ISBN-10: 0814757413

Thompson, Lanny. 2010. Imperial Archipelago: Representation and Rule in the Insular Territories under U.S. Dominion after 1898 Publisher: University of Hawaii Press ISBN-10: 0824834887 ISBN-13: 978-0824834883

Course Requirements 1. Weekly Meeting Participation (10% of total grade) As an independent study, this is a seminar format with little to no lecturing. The expectation is that the material will be read before meeting and you will come to each meeting with at least two detailed questions to spur discussion. Your participation grade will be based on the quantity and quality of comments and questions as well as a demonstration of knowledge of the course material.

You should contemplate: 1) What are the major theoretical questions posed by the week’s readings? 2) What is the significance of these questions? What are the larger implications? 3) What questions remain to be examined? 4) How do the week’s readings relate to current events?

2. Analytical Papers (Three, each 10% of total grade) For each paper, the student will answer a prompt that questions the implications of a course concept to a current problem facing Puerto Rico, whether it is its fiscal crisis, migration to the mainland, hurricane recovery and the related electrical blackouts, etc. Each paper will be typed and double-spaced with page numbers, in 12-point font and 1-inch margins, must cite all sources (Wikipedia and encyclopedias are not proper sources!), and use a consistent citation style.

***Papers that do not follow the format requirements will receive no higher than a C. ***Papers will be docked half a letter grade for each day they are late.

3. “Puerto Rico in Crisis” Event (60% of total grade) The student, with instructor guidance, organize an event for the Loyola community about the crises facing Puerto Rico. The event may feature faculty speakers from Loyola departments on a range of subjects pertaining to the origins and consequences of the fiscal, humanitarian, and political crises facing the island. The event may also feature student speakers from Puerto Rico who can to address the meaning of these crises in personal terms. The student will be assessed on an organizational plan for the event and on content she produces— whether historical, analytical, documentary—and the means to present it, such as PowerPoint, visual media, or multimedia.

Course Reading Schedule Week 1: Questions of Politics, Identity, Inequality, Governance, and Power in Puerto Rico Malavet, Introduction; Thompson, Introduction

Week 2: Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Puerto Rican Politics Malavet, Chapter 1; Sparrow, “A Territorial State” PS: Political Science (on Blackboard); Harris, “Race and Empire” PS: Political Science (on Blackboard)

Week 3: Imperial Conquest Malavet, Chapter 2; Thompson, Chapter 1

Week 4: Legal Foundations of Colonial Rule Thompson, Chapter 2

Week 5: Legal Construction of Colonial Citizenship Malavet, Chapter 2; Silverstein, “The Insular Cases” PS: Political Science (on Blackboard)

Week 6: Colonialized Identities: Gender Under U.S. Rule Thompson, Chapter 2

Week 7: Colonialized Identities: Race Under U.S. Rule Thompson, Chapter 3

Week 8: Strategies for Americanization Thompson, Chapter 4

Week 9: Puerto Rican Political Culture Malavet, Chapter 3

Week 10: Puerto Rican National Identity Malavet, Chapters 4 & 5

Week 11: Puerto Rican Congressional Representation Holtzman, “Empire and Representation: The U.S. Congress” Legislative Studies Quarterly (on Blackboard); Cain, “Bill Cosponsorship in the U.S. House of Representatives: The Case of the Non-voting House Members” (on Blackboard)

Week 12: Fiscal Crisis and PROMESA: Post-colonial or Re-colonial? Colón-Morera, "US Policy toward its Territories" PS: Political Science (on Blackboard)

Week 13: Hurricane Relief amidst Economic and Political Crisis Newkirk, “Can Puerto Rico Recover From Maria Before the Next Storm Hits?" The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/puerto-ricos-next-public-health- challenges/558896/ Hernández, "Sluggish recovery from Hurricane Maria reignites calls for Puerto Rico’s statehood, independence." The Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/the-struggle-to-recover-from-hurricane-maria- reignites-calls-for-puerto-ricos-statehood-independence/2018/04/28/e9284fe2-2c7d-11e8-8688- e053ba58f1e4_story.html?utm_term=.804d93b86c6b

Week 14: A Framework for Legal Reform Malavet, Chapters 6 & 7

Note: There are no readings the week of the “Crisis in Puerto Rico” event

Access to Blackboard The course uses Blackboard: go to http://loyno.blackboard.com/. Once you are in the course site, you will have access to the syllabus, announcements, and additional readings. In the event that there is an interruption to our course due to cancellation of classes by the university as a result of an emergency, we will continue our course on Blackboard within 48 hours after cancellation. All students are required to sign on to Blackboard and to keep up with course assignments with 48 hours of evacuation and routinely check for announcements and course materials associated with each class. Class handouts will be posted under ‘course materials’.

Disability Services Students needing academic accommodations for a disability must first be registered with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) to verify the disability and to establish eligibility for accommodations. If you perceive disability-related barriers in a course, please let the ODS know immediately. ODS welcomes your feedback that will assist in improving the usability and experience for all students. Loyola is committed to offering classes that are inclusive in their design. ODS contact information is as follows: Marquette Hall, Room 112 504-865-2990 (front office) [email protected]

Emergencies At times, ordinary university operations are interrupted as a result of tropical storms, hurricanes, or other emergencies that require evacuation or suspension of on-campus activities. To prepare for such emergencies, all students will do the following during the first week of classes: 1. Practice signing on for each course through Blackboard. 2. Provide regular and alternative e-mail address and phone contact information to each instructor. In the event of an interruption to our course due emergency requiring an evacuation or suspension of campus activities, students will: 3. Pack textbooks, assignments, syllabi and any other needed materials for each course and bring during an evacuation/suspension. 4. Keep up with course work during the evacuation/suspension as specified on course syllabi and on-line Blackboard courses. 5. Complete any reading and/or writing assignments given by professors before emergency began.

Assuming a power source is available.... 6. Log on to university Web site within 48 hours of an evacuation/suspension. 7. Monitor the main university site (www.loyno.edu) for general information. 8. Log on to each course through Blackboard or e-mail within 48 hours of an evacuation/suspension to receive further information regarding contacting course instructors for assignments, etc. 9. Complete Blackboard and/or other online assignments posted by professors (students are required to turn in assignments on time during the evacuation/suspension period and once the university campus has reopened. 10. Contact professors during an evacuation/suspension (or as soon as classes resume on campus) to explain any emergency circumstances that may have prevented them from completing expected work.

Further information about student responsibilities in emergencies is available on the Academic Affairs web site: http://academicaffairs.loyno.edu/students-emergencyresponsibilities. Academic Misconduct “Academic misconduct includes but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, knowingly furnishing false information to the University, its officials or duly constituted committees, forgery, and the alteration or use of institutional documents or identification with the intent to defraud.” For further information about student code of conduct refer to: http://studentaffairs.loyno.edu/sites/studentaffairs.loyno.edu/files/loyola-university-new-orleans- 2010-code-of-conduct.pdf. Academic dishonesty will result in failure of the assignment or exam and a report to the Dean. A specific form of academic dishonesty is plagiarism. Plagiarism is the copying of another’s words, ideas, and data without proper citation. Most plagiarism is the result of carelessness and laziness. You should not copy directly from the internet; provide references for all your sources of information; and never reprint published material without adequate citation. For more information on plagiarism, or on proper citation form, see http://www.loyno.edu/wac/handouts-and-helpful-links.

Writing Assistance Writing Across the Curriculum assists students writing in any discipline and at any stage of the writing process—from brainstorming to revising. WAC tutors do not write or edit papers, but they do help student writers improve their writing and strengthen their critical thinking skills. Tutoring is free and no appointments are necessary. Visit us in Bobet 100, call us at 865-2297, or visit us on the web at www.loyno.edu/wac.