The Doctrines of Imagination : American Foreign Policy & the Images of Puerto Rico , 1898-1965
“ all deeply ingrained in the character of the Porto Rican .” 22 Van Deusen also said he admired the people ’ s “ family devotion .” The Puerto Rican familial relationship was one Van Deusen regarded as one based on respect and sharing . What he found most admirable was that Puerto Ricans possessed “ a superior intelligence with ability to grasp an idea readily .” 23 What Van Deusen was saying was different from what Puerto Ricans were described as earlier in the century . He depicted them as people who were different due to their Latin traditions and cultures while making it clear that Puerto Ricans could become Americans because of their qualities . The Good Neighbor Policy seemed to have worked for Puerto Rico ’ s image . What was to come next was a Puerto Rico that was praised during the Cold War .
1946-1965 : Puerto Rico is a Capitalist Miracle
Operation Bootstrap , which took place between 1947 and 1960 , was a program that transformed the Puerto Rican economy . 24 With the help of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company and the United States federal government , Operation Bootstrap ’ s projects became known for leading to the increase in manufacturing , export production and the quality of life of Puerto Ricans . 25 By 1947 , the Truman Doctrine marked the beginning of the Cold War , which was an extension of the Monroe Doctrine that sought to ward off communism in the Western Hemisphere . Under this condition , the United States and American writers fabricated an image of Puerto Rico that served as proof to the world that capitalism worked more effectively than communism . Puerto Ricans ’ image also improved , for they could have their own George Washington-esque figure for them to follow .
Cold War sentiments viewed Puerto Rico as a capitalist success story that otherwise would not have been possible if it were not for the United States ’ help and the efforts of hard-working Puerto Ricans . Once viewed as a disease-ridden , overpopulated and underdeveloped island , Puerto Rico now stood “ as a prosperous , healthy land of opportunity .” 26
Puerto Rico : A Success Story by Ralph Hancock was a book published in 1960 that hailed the United States as a friendly capitalist force that helped Puerto Rico become a success . Capitalism and communism were competing on a global scale triggering the discourse and critiques of both systems . With that said , Hancock would go on to state that capitalism was not “ synonymous with aggression ” but progress . And Puerto Rico served as a shining example of United States ’ “ benevolent ” interests and living proof that both parties can work together in harmony . 27
Puerto Rico : Island of Promise , also published in 1960 , has author Ruth Gruber pose that Puerto Rico was going in the right direction due to American economic intervention . She said that before United States intervention in Puerto Rico there was “ beauty and wealth in a few sections , and poverty and hunger
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