costa rica exceptionalism in central america. colonial antecedents colonization begins in 1560 but...
TRANSCRIPT
Costa Rica
Exceptionalism
in
Central America
Colonial Antecedents• Colonization begins in 1560 but is slow
– Few minerals– Distance from Guatemalan and Mexican centers of power
• Indigenous die out, flee, or are assimilated– Still some remain in southern CR– Bruncas and others
• Socioeconomic differentiation exists– It is just less severe
• Major differences– Never developed hacienda system– Small holder farming persists and keeps peasants relatively free– Distance from seats of powerexperience in self government– Learned civil approach to conflicts
19th Century: the first coffee republic
• 1823: Liberal/Conservative conflict not so strong in CR—quick liberal victory
• Until 1905: instability in leadership– ¼ serve 1 year– 1/6 toppled by coup– 1/3 of period under military rule
• 1870: Colonial Tomas Guardia – Modernization, constitutional reform, education– (UFCO period starts)– Conservatives disappear
20th Century• Ethnic diversity: Laborers to work on railroads• Economic diversificationLabor organization
and strikes– 1923 election contested by an alliance of political party,
unions, and progressive Catholics
– 1934: CR communist party wins major strike against UFCO powerful labor confederation
• Middle class also expands rapidly during 1930’s• 1940’s: the most critical decade in CR history
1940’s• Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia
– Social security reforms– Popular alliance with Comm. Party, unions and church
• Labor code, right to strike
• VP survives him– Elites are alienated
• 1948: Calderon goes for a second round– Set up election board and gives control to the opposition
• Ulate wins fraudulently• Calderonistas refuse to certify
• Civil war: short but bloody– Jose Figueres (National Liberation Party) rebels
Figueres and the NLP• Junta rules for 18 months• Repressed labor• Key social democratic reforms
– Abolition of the armed forces– Independent electoral agency
• Supreme Electoral Tribunal
– Constitution• Popular sovereignty• Equality of citizens before the law• Limited government
– Relinquished power back to Ulate in 1949• NLP eventually wins in 1953
Costa Rican Democracy• Political rights and guarantees
– Freedom of written and spoken expression, movement, religion, association and petitition of government
– Freedom from self-incrimination, cruel or unusual punishment– Right to due process, privacy and free access to information
from gov
• Social rights– Government protection for families, mothers and children– Equal rights between marriage partners
• Economic rights– Right to organize, collective bargaining, strike– Equal pay for equal work– Minimum wage, overtime, etc. – Public health care
Political Economy: 1949-1980• Development model transforms CA
– Nationalized banking and insurance– import substitution model– Regional integration under the CA Common Market
• Foreign investment expands infrastructure• GDP: 5X between 1950-1975 (per capita doubles)
• 1973: global economy spurs downturn– 1973 oil prices trade deficit and depression– Inflation– Gov continues spending, borrows money from abroad
• By 1980: debt rises from 11.5% GDP in 1970 to 147% in 1982
1980’s: SAPs and stabilization• CR trades support for US in Nicaragua for economic
stabilization $1.14 billion between 1982-1988 (10 x previous period)
– Temporary respite
– Brought turbulence into N. CR
• Second phase: starting in 1985: SAPs– Neoliberal reforms engineered by ILI’s
• SAP I (1985): reduces government size and spending
• SAP II (1989): tax reform, elimination of subsidies, promotion of NTEX, tariff reduction, privatization
– > reduced debt service and budget deficits
• SAP III (mid 1990’s): deeper cuts, further privatization provokes major protests in the streets
– Teachers, port workers,
Impacts of Neoliberal Reforms • New niches in global economy
NTEX, telecommunications, ecotourism• Income disparities appear to grow
– Social malaise: drugs and violence increase
• Implications for democracy:– Stronger and healthier state
– Stimulation of greater civil society
– SAPS are imposed by outsiders:economic decisions are in the hands of foreign private investors and intergovernmental lenders
– Greater legislation by decree and bureaucratic rule making (not by representation in the LA)
Non Traditional Exports• Butterfly producers
• Anthurium producers
Anthurium production
Tilapia farming
Butterflies
Butterflies
Citizen action against Harken Co. oil drilling in Talamanca
Anti-dam protests by Brunca Indians
CA Regionalism
• Kingdom of Guatemala• United Provinces of Central America
– 1823-1838
• Early 20th C– CA Court and other initiatives– Broken apart by US invasion of Nicaragua
• 1923: attempts to revive failed to revive spirit of 1907
• Central American Common Market: 1960
Recent regionalizing initiatives:
• European Union model– Obstacles to Integration
• variation in development • Hesitance of CR and Panama to join poorer neighbors• The other four are working alone on some things
– standardizing registration procedures for foods and medicines.
• Bilateral and other agreements • Proliferation of bodies• Absence of some necessary institituions• Ebbing and flowing enthusiasm
CAFTA
• Negotiations started Jan. 2003, expected to end before US elections
• CA countries have been gradually liberalizing although not without some struggle
• US interest is more geopolitical than economic
• Dovetails with Plan Puebla-Panama