The Challenge of Puerto Rico: Resolving Status Issues

Abstract

The report is an account of a long-running question that remains unanswered despite several referenda and a string of island-wide elections: What should Puerto Rico be—a state, a rather unique commonwealth, some kind of associated state (with what rights and privileges?), or an independent entity? This report provides a series of answers, both in the opening essay and in the edited summary of discussions of a fascinating meeting in Washington.