Subject People and Colonial Discourses: Economic Transformation and Social Disorder in Puerto Rico, 1898-1947 (Suny Series in Society and Culture) (SUNY series in Society and Culture in Latin America)

This book rethinks the social processes that violently refashioned Puerto Rican society in the first half of the twentieth century. Santiago-Valles explores how the new regime’s socio-economic, political, and signification systems socially constructed the laboring poor of this Caribbean island as “wayward” subjects. Critically drawing on recent theorizations of post-structuralism, feminism, critical criminology, subaltern studies, and post-coloniality he examines the mechanisms through which colonized subjects become recognized, contained, and represented as subordinate. He analyzes the structures of social control in Latin America by focusing on the evolving definitions of deviance, social unrest, and economic development. At issue are the cultural practices that necessarily accompanied and aided U.S. colonialist enterprises in Puerto Rico during a shift in the world capitalist market and in geopolitical hegemony with the Caribbean. “The author’s thinking is strong at both unveiling prevalent myths and building new explanations. Much of what he says provides very new insights into modern Puerto Rican history and because of the case in point, into key issues of current social theory.” — Juan Flores, City College of New York “This is a provocative analysis of Puerto Rican social history that undertakes to integrate political economy and subjectivization within the context of the discourse of otherness. The topic is most significant. It is the focus of concern within sociology, social history, discourses of othering and colonialism, history, Puerto Rican Studies, and in an extended way to the application of poststructuralist models of analysis.” — David Theo Goldberg, Arizona State University Kelvin A. Santiago-Valles is Associate Professor in the Sociology Department, State University of New York at Binghamton. This Book Rethinks The Social Processes That Violently Refashioned Puerto Rican Society In The First Half Of The Twentieth Century. Santiago-valles Explores How The New Regime's Socio-economic, Political, And Signification Systems Socially Constructed The Laboring Poor Of This Caribbean Island As Wayward Subjects. Critically Drawing On Recent Theorizations Of Post-structuralism, Feminism, Critical Criminology, Subaltern Studies, And Post-coloniality He Examines The Mechanisms Through Which Colonized Subjects Become Recognized, Contained, And Represented As Subordinate. He Analyzes The Structures Of Social Control In Latin America By Focusing On The Evolving Definitions Of Deviance, Social Unrest, And Economic Development. At Issue Are The Cultural Practices That Necessarily Accompanied And Aided U.s. Colonialist Enterprises In Puerto Rico During A Shift In The World Capitalist Market And In Geopolitical Hegemony With The Caribbean. 1. Post-coloniality, Corrective Studies, And The (re)making Of History -- Pt. I. 1898-1921. 2. A Contest Of Structures. 3. The Contradictory Mechanisms Of Preservation And Transformation. 4. The Rise Of The Evil-disposed Classes, 1898-1909. 5. Waging Battle Against Numerous Evils, 1910-1921 -- Pt. Ii. 1922-1947. 6. Creating A Discontented Working Class, 1922-1929. 7. The Age Of Criminal Saturation, 1930-1939. 8. Rage Concentrated Twice Over, 1940-1947. 9. The Subjects In Question. Kelvin A. Santiago-valles. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 243-295) And Index. “Subject People” and Colonial Discourses Contents List of Tables No. 1 Employment by Occupational Sector in Puerto Rico, Selected Years, Both Sexes, 10 Years of Age or Older No. 2 Employment by Economic Sector in Puerto Rico, Selected Years, Both Sexes, 10 Years or Older No. 3 Number and Rates of Arrests in Puerto Rico, Selected Years, Both Sexes No.4 Number and Rates for Murder and Attempted Murder, and Number and Rates for Suicide Cases in Puerto Rico, Selected Years, Both Sexes No. 5 Principal Specific Causes of Police Arrests in Order of Number of Arrests Carried Out, Selected Years, Both Sexes No. 6 Distribution of Labor Force in Selected Non-Agricultural Economic Sectors, Selected Years, Both Sexes, 10 Years of Age or Older Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction Post-Coloniality, Corrective Studies, and the (Re)making of History PartI 1898-1921 2 A Contest of Structures 3 The Contradictory Mechanisms of Preservation and Transformation 4 The Rise of the “Evil-Disposed” Classes, 1898-1909 5 “Waging Battle Against Numerous Evils,” 1910-1921 Part II 1922-1947 6 “Creating a Discontented Working Class,” 1922-1929 7 “The Age of Criminal Saturation,” 19380-1939 8 “Rage Concentrated Twice Over,” 1940-1947 Conclusion 9 The Subjects in Question Notes Index This book rethinks the social processes that violently refashioned Puerto Rican society in the first half of the twentieth century. Santiago-Valles explores how the new regime's socio-economic, political, and signification systems socially constructed the laboring poor of this Caribbean island as “wayward” subjects. Critically drawing on recent theorizations of post-structuralism, feminism, critical criminology, subaltern studies, and post-coloniality he examines the mechanisms through which colonized subjects become recognized, contained, and represented as subordinate.He analyzes the structures of social control in Latin America by focusing on the evolving definitions of deviance, social unrest, and economic development. At issue are the cultural practices that necessarily accompanied and aided U. S. colonialist enterprises in Puerto Rico during a shift in the world capitalist market and in geopolitical hegemony with the Caribbean.Kelvin A. Santiago-Valles is Associate Professor in the Sociology Department, State University of New York at Binghamton.