The bootstrap dance of the millions: Providing a historical narrative of the 20th century that impacted Puerto Rico and Cuba's aspirations for food sovereignty

The importance of Food Sovereignty has led many national agricultural organizations to look for answers for self-sustainability utilizing different approaches. As we become Interconnected globally, Food Sovereignty movements have coagulated around the world, facilitating food security in diverse ways pertaining to their specific agricultural attributes. This thesis will argue that due to imperialist influence, Puerto Rico’s and Cuba’s food security have been affected both positively and negatively relating to Food Sovereignty. The outcome of the watershed moments leading up to Operation Bootstrap, alongside results of the Cuban Revolution, post Spanish American war, provide the turning points to two extremely different agricultural realities. One having a problematic lack of food security and sovereignty in Puerto Rico, and the existing agricultural self-sufficiency practices of modern-day independent Cuba. By studying the periods of history leading to both present-day realities, one can obtain a wider scope in the agroeconomic focus on Food Sovereignty. Highlighting the benefits of Food Sovereignty on these islands could lead to a detachment from foreign import practices and an increase in self-sustainability. Using Puerto Rico and Cuba as case studies, we can understand both the effects of a nation's reliance on imported goods, and the results of a system that denies imperial agroeconomic attachment. Puerto Rico and Cuba provide similar yet unique case-studies when spotlighting their agricultural upbringings.