De la periferia al centro. (Cuba, Puerto Rico y Filipinas en la crisis del Imperio español)

Abstract

The break up of the Spanish Empire was completed at the beginning of the third decade of the XIXth century. Out of its ruins, Spain managed to keep three important possessions, two in the Caribbean (Cuba and Puerto Rico) one in the China sea (Philippines). This paper examines the transformation of the colonial nexus that made possible for Spain to keep those insular enclaves under control. The policies developed as a response to the military impact due to the takeover of Habana and Manila during the Seven Year’s War are evaluated. They are analysed in the context of a general transformation process that went beyond the colonial framework of those specific possessions.