Giovanni Cortez

Proposal for Final Paper

Spring 2017
Citizenship, Race, & Democracy in American Pol. Thought

I want to write my paper about the relationship between present day colonies

(though currently, they are often called something more technical) and the larger nations

that possess them. I think college debunks some of the most basic historical knowledge

for most of us, one of those being colonialism: the idea that colonies are a thing of the

past, but it’s simply not true. The only thing that’s different is the name of the game, but

the rules stay the same. I am tempted to make a chess anecdote, but I will refrain. I think

my focus will be on Puerto Rico, the island where my family is from and the territory of

America that is facing the most forceful brunt of colonial relationships. There are also

other questions concerning citizenship such as voter rights. The goal is to use Puerto

Rico, along with supplementary, relevant information from other territories, to explore

this contemporary form of colonialism and answer questions as to how things have gotten

to this point, how could they change, and what’s in store for the foreseeable future. Is

independence a realistic option for countries that have never been autonomous before?

Though I’m not sure I can answer that immediate question, I think the exploration can

yield some worthwhile points on the matter. I may also switch from Puerto Rico to

another territory if I can accrue another information as Puerto Rico, specifically now, is

so heavily covered on this end.