The role of the political system in shaping island nationalism: a case-study examination of Puerto Rico and Newfoundland.

Abstract

Islands are sites where specific forms of governance can develop, providing insights for ‘continental’ nations. This paper discusses the role the political system has in shaping nationalist policies and demands in island settings, examining the specific cases of Puerto Rico and Newfoundland. Starting from a hypothesis outlined by both Fazi and Hepburn, this paper aims at finding empirical data and evidence to the hypothesis that island jurisdictions having a different party system than their central state show an increase in their nationalist demands. In order to do so, this paper first examines the definition of island nationalism and offers, following Lluch’s typology, a framework for analyzing nationalist demands. Then, it examines important historical material in both Newfoundland and Puerto Rico. This will demonstrate how political parties and political leaders can use nationalism to shape policies and will allow us to verify the initial hypothesis.

Keywords

• islands
• nationalism
• Newfoundland
• political leaders
• political parties
• political system
• Puerto Rico