'Puerto Rico' Review: The History of an Island.

The article discusses the history of Puerto Rico, highlighting its ambiguous status as neither a state nor a nation. The author reviews a new history book on Puerto Rico, noting that while there are already several classic histories available, this book offers a postcolonial interpretive analysis. The article provides a brief overview of Puerto Rico's history, including the European presence, the acquisition by the U.S. after the Spanish-American War, and the gradual expansion of Puerto Rico's rights. The author also mentions the industrialization strategy known as Operation Bootstrap and the alternating political parties in Puerto Rico. The book's emphasis on the depredations of Puerto Rico's colonial experience is noted, as well as its victim-centered approach. The tension between the fluid nation of Puerto Rico and its colonial status is discussed, and the article briefly mentions the oversight board created to restore fiscal responsibility and restructure Puerto Rico's debt. The author disagrees with the book's claim that most of the debt was accrued illegally and highlights the role of bankruptcy in reducing debt and freeing up money for institution-building. [Extracted from the article]