Título en español.

Abstract

An abyss exists between academic endeavour and Puerto Rican society, especially concerning the social sciences. This is most remarkable given the deterioration and stagnation of Puerto Rico‘s economy and society. At present no social strategy, either of the Statate or alternative, makes use of the intense activity of the human sciences. The author maintains that intellectual activity ought to be 'organically‘ intertwined with society in order to provide the latter with unity and coherence and for a project to exist. No such organic relationship, however, exists in Puerto Rico, and neither exists a strategy of the island to create a project of its own. The University of Puerto Rico keeps academic activity relatively isolated from the country‘s main social and national needs, despite the great talent shown by teachers, researchers, and students. The UPR participates in the government‘s concept that Puerto Rico must present the big foreign investments on high technology and bio-science with a local infrastructure, instead of promoting the currents which could begin a social and economic development of Puerto Rico. An aspect of the question is the lack of democracy within the University. A 'century-old dictatorship‘ exists in the UPR, the author maintains. The hierarchical structure preventing the academic community from participating is a part of colonial rule of the United States in Puerto Rico. Intellectuals face the challenge of organising their activity in new forms, so their ability to understand and analyse society could intervene not only in the internal debates of the UPR, but in the country as a whole.