ABSTRACT
A democratic haven in Central America ever since 1948, Costa Rica is slowly beginning a transition away from two-party dominance (PLN, Partido Liberación Nacional, and the Catholic-inspired PUSC, Partido Unidad Social Cristiana), with both greater abstentionism by the electorate and involvement by a plethora of new parties. While the PUSC continues in government, the 2002 polls saw an unprecedented ‘third force’ gain 26 per cent and force a run-off election for the first time ever.
