New Resources

PUERTO RICO Surenda Bhana, The United States and the Development of the Puerto Rican Status Question (1936-1968) (University Press of Kansas, 1975). $11 cloth, 290 pgs. An institu- tional approach to the history of Puerto Rico. Bhana seeks to analyze the history of relations between the United States and Puerto Rico by explaining the internal logic of parties, legislatures and bureaucracies. Rarely do any “external” forces enter into this picture, and the study suffers from it. (Regents Press of Kansas, 303 Carruth-O’Leary, Lawrence, KS 66045.) Kenneth R. Farr, Personalism and Party Politics: Institu- tionalization of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (Inter-American University Press, 1973). $2 paper, 143 pgs. Farr examines the period leading to the 1968 elec- toral defeat of the PPD, its first since 1938. Throughout, the analysis is weak and incomplete. Particularly disap- pointing is any serious investigation of the Sanchez Vilella administration (1965-68). Instead, Farr concen- trates on inter-generational struggles in the PPD, etc. (Inter-American University Press, GPO Box 3255, San Juan, PR 00936,) Jorge F. Freyre, El modelo econ6mico de Puerto Rico (Inter-American University Press, 1979). $13 paper, $20 cloth, 270 pgs. Freyre’s study was commissioned by a group of Puerto Rican banks which wanted an input- output, econometric model constructed for Puerto Rico, and much of this book consists of Freyre running a set of variables through his model. The best material in the book are the purely statistical and descriptive chapters. Otherwise, his assumptions (e.g., balance of trade is not a concern since Puerto Rico should be ex- amined as one would examine any U.S. state), are highly questionable. (Inter-American University Press, GPO Box 3255, San Juan, PR 00936.) Luis Muhoz Marin, Mensajes al pueblo puertorriquefno pronunciados ante las cimaras legislativas, 1949-64 (Inter- American University of Puerto Rico, 1980). Write for price, paper, 358 pgs. Best collection of Muhoz Marin’s speeches to the legislature. Very useful as a reference. (Inter-American University Press, GPO Box 3255, San Juan, PR 00936.) MarlApr 1981 Thomas Mathews, Puerto Rican Politics and the New Deal (Da Capo Press, 1976). $32.50 cloth, 345 pgs. Originally published in 1960, Mathews’ study remains the best English-language treatment of the topic. Its well- researched and well-written approach provides a com- prehensive historical view of the period without claim- ing to (or, in fact, providing) any larger class analysis of Puerto Rico. (Da Capo Press, 227 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011.) Rafael L. Ramirez and Wenceslao Serra Deliz, eds., Crisis y critica de las ciencias sociales en Puerto Rico (Centro de Investigaciones Sociales, Universidad de Puerto Rico, 1980). Write for price, paper, 310 pgs. This series of essays grew out of a May 1978 conference on the crisis of social sciences in Puerto Rico. Many of the ar- ticles focus specifically on that theme (the essays by Agustin Cuevas and Diana L6pez are both quite good), while others present some excellent studies of par- ticular topics, examples of the improving state of social sciences in Puerto Rico. Among these are NACLA staf- fer, AmBrico Badillo Veiga’s article on migration studies in Puerto Rico, Carlos Ramos on the ideology of family planning, Ricardo Campos on migration, and Jos6 Luis Gonzslez and Antonio Lauria Perricelli on literature and culture in Puerto Rico. (University of Puerto Rico, Cen- tro de Investigaciones Sociales, Rio Piedras, PR 99031.) Clara Rodriguez, Virginia Sgnchez Korrol, Jos6 Oscar Alers, eds., The Puerto Rican Struggle: Essays on Sur- vival in the U.S. (Puerto Rican Migration Research Con- sortium, Inc., 1980). $5 paper, 151 pgs. Thirteen essays on the Puerto Rican experience in the United States dealing with topics from economic survival, work and family to barrio politics, music and spiritualism. (Puerto Rican Migration Research Consortium, 205 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10016.) MISCELLANEOUS Artworks/The Silkscreen Project, For the Could-Be Art- ist: A Graphic Arts Manual (Artworks, 1981). $3.00 paper, 32 pgs. Want to print a T-shirt, a button or a banner? Need to layout a newsletter? Want to find out about typesetters or printers? It’s all here in a very well- prepared guide for the beginner. The manual will help with paste-ups and mechanicals for offset printing and silkscreening on paper and textiles. A must for all who want to communicate through design. (Artworks, PO Box 1407, Cathedral Station, New York, NY 10025.) We would like to call our readers’ attention to two current magazines. The March/April 1981 issue of Science for the People contains articles on agrarian reform in Nicaragua, science in Cuba and the history of U.S. military support to the Salvadorean regime. ($1.75 per issue/$10 per year to Science for the People, 897 Main St., Cambridge, MA 02139.) Also, the new issue of the Interracial Books for Children Bulletin (Vol. 12, no. 2) is devoted to the Nicaraguan literacy crusade and con- tains some excellent articles. ($2.25 per issue/$10 per year to Council on Interracial Books for Children, 1841 Broadway, New York, NY 10023.)