ABSTRACT
Costa Rica, unlike its neighbours, refrained from creating large and powerful armed forces. So much so that, even after having a well-equipped army for many decades, the country abolished it by a constitutional mandate, after the end of the country’s last civil war in 1948. Since then, for Costa Rica, demilitarisation has become much more than just a historical development. It represents the unilateral and voluntary adoption of a way of life and a form of political culture and of organising power that defies conventional wisdom. This chapter explores four principal issues: (1) Why was the abolition of the armed forces possible in Costa Rica? (2) Why has it been successful? (3) What benefits has Costa Rica obtained by abolishing its armed forces? (4) Can this policy be replicated in other countries and is it convenient or likely to happen? The chapter concludes that demilitarisation has been a decisive factor in Costa Rica’s democratic development and stability. Costa Rica’s demilitarisation is regarded as the ultimate and most effective instrument for guaranteeing national security. Demilitarisation has also become a cultural factor, deeply rooted in the Costa Rican political and socio-economic systems, as well as a symbolic asset of secular unity. The increase in transnational organised crime in the Caribbean Basin, including Costa Rica, has not led to the militarisation of public security but has been addressed through the improvement of the structural, legal, financial, logistical and operational capabilities of police institutions.
