In recent discussions surrounding secessionism , various movements globally are advocating for unity rather than separation. One intriguing example has re-emerged in the spotlight recently. While the concept isn’t new, it continues to provoke interest, especially concerning a particular territory of the United States that desires to unite with Spain : Puerto Rico.
As previously mentioned, this sentiment of unity resonates across various geographical locations and shared historical narratives. For instance, the Moldovans long for reintegration with Romania due to common language, culture, and history. This notion can also be seen in the voices of certain Puerto Ricans experiencing a nostalgic imperialism, envisioning their future not as the 51st star on the U.S. flag, but as the 18th autonomous community of Spain.
Furthermore, Southern Tyrol has revived past ties to the Habsburgs, dreaming of reintegration with Austria , while the concept of Greater Albania continues to evoke ethnic-national ghosts in the Balkans . Iberismo , although more poetic than political, calls for a union between Spain and Portugal , driven mainly by nostalgic intellectuals rather than active citizen movements.
Simultaneously, the idea of Greater Hungary persists among the Hungarian nationalists, especially those residing outside Hungary’s present boundaries after the Treaty of Trianon . In Wallonia , a small party aspires to return a portion of the former Napoleonic territory to France. All these movements, though practically limited, represent a critical perspective on identity. They explore how identities fragment, yet sometimes seek to be reconstituted, suggesting that the map of Europe remains an unfinished canvas for collective aspirations beyond the borders assigned to various peoples.
The Puerto Rican Case
Let us examine the case of Puerto Rico. Following the dissolution of an empire over a century ago, several territories and movements continue to strive for the restoration of political ties once held with the Spanish Crown. Puerto Rico, an archipelago that was an integral part of the Spanish Empire for over 400 years, was ceded to the United States following the Spanish-American War in 1898.
Since then, the island has found itself in a complicated legal status as a Commonwealth : it is neither an independent nation nor a sovereign state within the U.S. federation. In this institutional limbo, the Adelante Reunificacionistas movement has emerged, advocating, albeit controversially, for Puerto Rico to return to Spain as its 18th autonomous community. Essentially, this initiative aims to activate historical, sentimental, and legal factors to reverse the course taken over a century ago, impinging on both the structures of the Spanish state and the constitutional rigidity of the U.S.
However, the situation is far from straightforward. In fact, the legal reality poses significant challenges to the movement’s aspirations. The Constitution of the United States explicitly prohibits any form of territorial secession that isn’t sanctioned by Congress, effectively nullifying the possibility of Puerto Rico severing its ties with Washington without an improbable legal process.
On the other hand, Spain lacks a formal mechanism to incorporate an external territory as a new autonomous community. While the advocates argue for a media blackout hindering their message within Puerto Rico, they claim to have the support of around 16.3% of the population, a figure that remains unverified by independent studies.
Moreover, by being constituted as a cultural association rather than a political party—a limitation imposed by U.S. legislation—they are unable to participate in elections or conduct institutional political activities. This dynamic gives the movement a symbolic rather than pragmatic character, rendering it more provocative than feasible.
Nonetheless, despite these evident limitations, the Adelante Reunificacionistas movement opens a unique window into the identity perception in Puerto Rico. In a territory without the right to vote for the President of the United States, where U.S. citizenship is conferred without full representation, and where Spanish remains the primary language for many residents, there are segments that culturally align more closely with Hispanic Europe than with the Anglo-Saxon world.
This phenomenon, albeit minoritarian, rekindles old discussions on decolonization , self-determination , and belonging, encompassing not only legal perspectives but also emotional, historical, and linguistic dimensions.
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In summary, while the Puerto Rican movement to reunite with Spain might face practical obstacles, it symbolizes a complex struggle over identity in a global context where the desire for unity often collides with geopolitical realities.