Find out the latest indie author news. For FREE.

ADVERTISEMENT

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 02/2022
  • B09PGR4LM2
  • 244 pages
  • $9.99
Paperback Details
  • 02/2022
  • 978-1647045142
  • 246 pages
  • $19.99
Bublish, Inc.
Service Provider
America's Last Fortress

Adult; Political & Social Sciences; (Market)

China's Belt and Road initiative is on the way. Premier Xi's agenda? For China to have unrestricted access to the rest of the world. At the focus is America's last fortress, Puerto Rico, which sits primely at the southern entrance of the Caribbean from the Atlantic Ocean. The only way that China can exercise influence in Puerto Rico-and move freely around the globe-is if Puerto Rico becomes an independent nation. Puerto Rico's political process is in shambles and the island is now slipping toward independence. Author Alexander Odishelidze spent 30 years on decolonization with a preference for statehood. This is his firsthand account of the mistakes made during that process, and of the vested interests-both on the mainland US and in Puerto Rico-that fought to maintain the status quo. In the 1970s, independence drew less than 5 percent of the vote in Puerto Rico's elections. During the last election, independence-leaning candidates received almost 50 percent of the vote. The trend is away from statehood. And China is watching.
Reviews
Odishelidze (Pay to the Order of Puerto Rico) makes an economic, political, and historical case for a change in Puerto Rico’s status from what he describes currently as a “colony” of the United States. Fundamentally, he believes that Puerto Rico should either become a state in the U.S. or gain independence–arguing that its current status only serves wealthy corporations and well-to-do Puerto Ricans, and he sees the issue as particularly urgent given the geopolitical threat posed by China in its Belt and Road Initiative to create an uninterrupted global trade route.

Odishelidze, a longtime resident of the island as well as someone, has actively lobbied Congress for Puerto Rico’s decolonization, and demonstrates a keen eye for the economic gains that could result from a change in Puerto Rico’s status, specifically citing the example of Hawaii as a case for the benefits of statehood. He includes relevant data to bolster his points and draws on historical documents and memos as well. Some readers may find sections including excerpts from the Congressional Record and photos of the author with political figures distracting, but despite a surfeit of previously published material Odishelidze convincingly maintains his core geopolitical contention that Puerto Rico is strategically valuable to the United States.

Odishelidze acknowledges that his time spent lobbying Congress may have made him cynical about what it takes to get legislation passed, but he never loses focus of the benefits the United States and Puerto Rico might accrue if the island at long last was granted the sovereignty of statehood, including the opportunity to develop economic drivers. He’s realistic about issues of ideology and politics and addresses in depth the practical implications of the choice that the U.S. faces. Whatever the future of the island may be, Odishelidze makes it very clear that stasis is not a winning option for anyone.

Takeaway: An enlightening, persuasive case for changing the status of Puerto Rico.

Great for fans of: Ed Morales's Fantasy Island, Nelson Denis's War Against All Puerto Ricans.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: C
Illustrations: A-
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 02/2022
  • B09PGR4LM2
  • 244 pages
  • $9.99
Paperback Details
  • 02/2022
  • 978-1647045142
  • 246 pages
  • $19.99
ADVERTISEMENT

Loading...