Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2006

Journal / Book Title

Latin American Perspectives

Abstract

The grassroots struggle against the U.S. Navy in Vieques transcended highly divisive colonial politics to build unprecedented political solidarity in Puerto Rico. The success of the recent Vieques movement in shutting down a U.S. Navy live-fire training facility contrasts with the experience of an earlier grassroots struggle in the 1970s. Whereas cold-war politics impeded the earlier activists from forging the alliances and formulating the vision that might advance their cause, a changed political context in the 1990s opened up a new space for protest to develop. Activists' new focus on peace was crucial to strengthening, expanding, and internationalizing the Vieques movement.

DOI

10.1177/0094582X05283515

Published Citation

McCaffrey, K. T. (2006). Social struggle against the US Navy in Vieques, Puerto Rico: Two movements in history. Latin American Perspectives, 33(1), 83-101.

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