HISTORY & GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT
Costa Rica is one of the most politically stable countries in all of Latin America. It has had a democratic government with a strong set of constitutional checks and balances for over 50 years. The country’s two main political parties are the National Liberation Party and the Social Christian Unity Party. All presidents are elected for four-year terms with the option to run again only eight years after their term expires. This ensures the continuity of a strong democratic process.
The country is divided into seven provinces: San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Puntarenas, Guanacaste and Limon. There are no elected provincial officials. Judicial authority lies with the Supreme Court of Justice that consists of 22 magistrates selected by the Legislative Assembly and subsidiary courts. Costa Rica held its first mayoral elections in 2002. Prior to this, the office of mayor did not exist.
Costa Rica has a long history of respect for human rights. Its current President, Oscar Arias Sanchez, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for negotiating talks (the Arias Peace Plan) that led to the end of civil wars in neighboring Nicaragua and El Salvador. The President used the money he received from the prize to create the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress.
The Arias foundation has established a number of initiatives that demonstrate Costa Rica’s leadership role in terms of civil justice and liberty: The Center for Human Progress to promote equal opportunities for women in all sectors of Central American society; the Center for Organized Participation to foster change-oriented philanthropy in Latin America; and the Center for Peace and Reconciliation to work for demilitarization and conflict resolution in the developing world.
HISTORY
Europeans first discovered Costa Rica in 1502 when Christopher Columbus made landfall in the area. The Spanish optimistically named it “Coast of Riches” when they saw the native population wearing gold bands in their ears and noses. But, despite its breathtaking beauty and natural abundance, the land proved to have little gold or other valuable minerals. As a result, while remaining under Spanish rule for nearly three centuries, Costa Rica was never developed to the same extent as many other regions of the world. It’s one of the reasons Costa Rica has remained so green. Much of the country is exactly the same today as it was when those early European explorers first landed.
Costa Rica declared itself independent of Spain, along with other Central American provinces, in 1821. For a few years, it was ruled by Mexico and then, in 1848, it became an independent republic. Since that time, with the exception of a brief period as a military dictatorship under Tomas Guardia from 1870 to 1882, it has remained a stable democracy.
Unlike other regions of Latin America that have a reputation for unrest, Costa Rica is also known for being a peaceful oasis of justice and equality. It’s often compared to Switzerland due to its small size and political neutrality. Costa Rica, however, even went so far as to disband its armed forces in 1948 in favor of redirecting the funding into education and healthcare. As a result, the country has a literacy rate and healthcare services on par with those of North America and Europe. And with very little crime, it’s also widely considered to be one of the safest countries in Latin America.
PEOPLE
Visitors to Costa Rica are immediately struck by the warm, friendly nature of the people who live there. In a country where life is lived at a less hurried pace, it’s not uncommon to find strangers willing to go out of their way to help visitors. It’s why the Costa Ricans themselves are so often referred to as one of the nation’s most valuable assets.
Most inhabitants of Costa Rica (who refer to themselves as “Ticos”) are of Spanish ancestry. While the country had a small indigenous population when the first Spanish settlers arrived in the region, their numbers were decimated by smallpox and other illnesses. Today, only one percent of the population is aboriginal, 94 percent is European and mestizo and the balance a mix of other ethnic backgrounds. There are also approximately 50,000 North American English-speaking residents.
Evidence of the Costa Rican’s Spanish roots can be found in everything from their strong, traditional family values to their Latin art and architecture and healthy tortilla-based cuisine of beans, corn and rice. But close ties with the United States have also led them to adopt modern fashion, music and television. Tourists will find there’s very little they can get back home that’s not available in Costa Rica.
In recent world surveys, Costa Ricans rank highly in terms of personal happiness. This is no doubt due in part to the fact that they reside in such a geographically beautiful country. But their excellent quality of life can also be attributed to government initiatives that have directed such a substantial portion of their country’s economic resources into universal health care and other social programs.
Costa Ricans have also become world famous for their longevity. There are literally hundreds of people in the country, age 100 or older, living healthy, productive lives. Scientists speculate the reason for this is a combination of their active outdoors lifestyle, optimal year-round exposure to sunlight, diet rich in locally grown vegetables and the fresh mineral-laden water that flows naturally through their hills.
It’s all part of what Costa Ricans refer to as “pura vida.” Meaning literally “pure life,” the motto expresses their pervading philosophy of how life should be lived: Simply, peacefully and in harmony with nature.
BECOMING A RESIDENT
Costa Rica openly welcomes visitors from other countries. You may stay in the country for periods of up to three months without having to apply for legal residency. And you may return to Costa Rica for another three-month stretch at any time, so long as you have been out of the country for at least 72 hours. It’s also possible as a non-resident to invest or start a business in Costa Rica, and to apply for a special work permit in order to accept employment in an existing business.
Should you wish to stay in Costa Rica for longer than three months at a time, it’s relatively easy to become a resident. You may apply for one of several different residency categories while still retaining citizenship in your home country. The categories are pensionado for those living on a pension, rentista for those who have income coming from outside the country and inversionista for those who want to invest in Costa Rica. Student permits are also available to those wishing to study in the country.
After a certain number of years of residency, you also have the option of applying for Costa Rican citizenship. This provides you with all of the same rights as native Costa Ricans, including the right to vote.
Because the specific requirements for each of these categories changes periodically, one of the best ways to obtain the most up-to-date information on necessary documentation, and assistance with residency issues, is through the Association of Residents of Costa Rica at www.arcr.net . The association also publishes a bi-monthly informational magazine, El Residente, available in both English and Spanish.
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