Science and democracy are two of the most cherished values of Western Civilization, so much so that they are often associated with each other. With science, it is held, comes democracy. But, will democracy necessarily blossom with the seed of science? Inversely, does the collapse of the Arecibo Observatory on December 1, 2020 represent a predictor for the future of Puerto Rico’s political institutions? This book explores their many fruitful interactions between the eighteenth and the twentieth centuries. While special attention is given to the case of Puerto Rico, other small states throughout the Caribbean and Europe are also considered. The impact of science upon political theory, the active use of science to defend nationalism and sovereignty, as well as the role science played in the formation of the United States are all themes touched upon in an attempt to provide a definitive answer to their relationship.