Crisis by Design: Emergency Powers and Colonial Legality in Puerto Rico.

The article reviews *Crisis by Design: Emergency Powers and Colonial Legality in Puerto Rico* by Jose Atiles, which analyzes how colonialism and neoliberalism intersect in Puerto Rico's ongoing crises. Atiles introduces four key concepts—colonial state of exception, colonial legality, legal interruptions, and colonial ruptures—to explain how emergency powers and legal frameworks perpetuate colonial governance and economic exploitation, often benefiting local elites, the federal government, and the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico. The book traces these dynamics from the early twentieth century Insular Cases to contemporary austerity measures and grassroots resistance, highlighting the complex legal and political challenges faced by Puerto Rico. It also situates Puerto Rico's experience within broader global and postcolonial contexts, raising critical questions about the potential for legal and democratic transformation beyond colonial and neoliberal constraints.