Rise of Cultural Nationalism Flashcards
Decolonization at end of WWII
1940’s - 1990’s independence of European and American Colonies, except a few in mostly Caribbean and Pacific
Puerto Rico status post decolonization
Considered a postcolonial colony in which traditional forms of external domination.
Estado Libre Asociado formation
1952 Puerto Rico officially declared a commonwealth due to Munoz Marin and Demo Party supposed to be transitino, intermediate before statehood
Commonwealth Controls
its own government, laws as long as they don’t conflict with the US. Also education, culture, language, health, housing, taxation and local matters.
US controls
state affairs including citizenship, immigration, customs, defense, security, currency, transportation, communications, and foreign trade. no vote in senate.
Commonwealth’s first legislative action
proclaimed the national flag and anthem as official symbols of the island.
Cultural Nationalism
Defending cultural identity through establishing national symbols such as Olympic participation, flag, anthem, rituals, practices
Cultural Nationalism definition
a distinct type of political movement characterized by the moral regeneration of a community imagined as a nation by its leading intellectuals, against the intrusion of foreign values and practices.
Focus of Cultural Nationalists
Emphasizing a unique history, culture, language, and geography as essence of nation, but unlike political nationalists do not necessarily advocate for sorviergn state
Munoz Marin’s concept of culture
His concept of culture was consistently elusive, inclusive and idealistic. Strong belief in the need to transform national culture to discard traditional customs and attitudes that impeded economic development
Opposition of American and PR Culture (Fernandez Mendez)
USA as an industrial, financial and commercial capitalist economy with a large-scale and mechanized system of production and distribution. Puerto Rico as a rudimentary peasant economy, dominated by coffee and sugar plantations.
Cultural Nationalism and the Commonwealth
Carved sphere of cultural autonomy for new commonwealth, projecting as post colonial pact with USA. Co-opted both pro-independence and pro-statehood and sympathizer elites.
The Noble Peasant
Romantic figure as the purest embodiment of the ancestral customs of the folk: highland peasant, jibaro
Teodoro Vidal (aide to Munoz Marin)
Folklorist, businessman, donated 3346 objects to Smithsonian of PR culture and everyday life. especially woodcarving saints. Substantiate myth of great PR family. focus on catholicism.
Paradox dependency-cultural nationalism
sharp ideological split between statehood and nationality; citizenship and identity. we cannot be culturally Puerto Rican and American at the same time.
