Costa Rica: Quest For Democracy (Nations of the Modern World: Latin America) [Hardcover]

John A Booth (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813376319 | ISBN-13: 978-0813376318 | Publication Date: July 2, 1998

How did Costa Rica become Central America’s first successful democracy? How does Costa Rican democracy work? How does democracy survive despite regional turmoil, foreign intervention, and economic crisis? Beginning with Costa Rica’s history within the Central American context, John Booth traces democratic development in Costa Rica through its institutions, rules of the political game, parties, elections, and interest groups. After a review of socioeconomic and political forces, the author examines political participation and culture, political economy, and foreign affairs.Several democratization theories suggest that Costa Rica should not be democratic at all. Costa Rica’s own myth portrays a nation democratic virtually since independence. Both are wrong. Booth reviews classical theories about democracy as a framework for understanding the Costa Rican case. A history of democratization debunks much of the foundation myth, revealing how developing class forces created the modern regime after the 1948 Civil War. Analyses of social structure, political participation, political culture, foreign affairs, and the recent transformation of the Costa Rican political-economic model reveal how regional unrest, foreign intervention, and economic crisis had transformed the state and its development model by the 1990s. Booth concludes by evaluating the prospects for Costa Rican democracy and its lessons for the rest of Latin America.The book’s overview of Costa Rican politics is accessible and useful for students, scholars, and general readers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John A. Booth is Regents Professor of Political Science at the University of North Texas.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (July 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813376319
• ISBN-13: 978-0813376318
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,335,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > History > Americas > Central America > Costa Rica

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Customer Reviews

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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive overview of Costa Rican democratic government, July 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Costa Rica: Quest For Democracy (Nations of the Modern World: Latin America) (Hardcover)

Placing Costa Rica in the Central American context, Booth evaluates common myths about Costa Rican democracy. He finds the glass half full and half empty: Costa Rica's demanding citizens and a responsive government interact vibrantly, yet 1980s-90s financial crises permitted neoliberal foreign lenders to somewhat erode democracy and undermine redistributive programs that once supported it. Citizens' beliefs and demands sustain democracy, but frustration with hard times and politicians eroded election turnout in 1998. Not a travel guide, the book should interest students, scholars, policy makers, travellers seeking depth of information. Beginning with theories about the nature of democracy and how it develops, Booth traces the growth of Costa Rican politics from militarism and elite rule in the late 19th c. through the development of full democracy since 1949. Chapters focus on how the present constitution and institutions work, social structure and civil society. There are also chapters political participation and culture, political economy under external neoliberal pressures, and foreign policy. Tables and an appendix provide abundant data on elections, politics, economy, and society through 1998.