HelenPres1

BUILDING THE COSTA RICAN CONTEXT: 

BUILDING THE COSTA RICAN CONTEXT Prepared by Helen Temple MSc 2007

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PART ONE An introduction to the recent history and development of Costa Rica. 1929-1979: The Crash to the Welfare State The Golden years to the Crisis

Objectives: 

Objectives To put – social movements in their socio-political historical context. To reveal - the emergence of social movements in Costa Rica and the enabling and propelling factors of their development. To understand – Costa Rica’s most recent history and how it shapes social movement’s needs, concerns and development.

Guiding questions: 

Guiding questions What is the socio-political context of Costa Rica’s recent history? What socio-political issues are dominant? (And have emerged for social movements to tackle?). What socio-political factors have shaped Costa Rica’s social movement’s struggles? Which major social movements have emerged?

Historical Periods: 

Historical Periods Broad Areas: 1929-1979 The Crash to the Welfare State The Golden years to the Crisis Periods: 1929 - 1939: The vulnerability of coffee, the economic crash, the depression and the rise of communism. 1939 – 1948: Cortes, Calderón, communism and the catholic church. 1948 – 1949: Figueres, the civil war, ousting the communists, the new constitution and civil guarantees. 1949 – 1979: The welfare state and the “the 30 Golden Years”

Antecedents: 

Antecedents

Oligarchic Dominance of the Economy: 

Oligarchic Dominance of the Economy Features: Concentration of wealth. Control of banking and credit systems. Centralisation of industry. Export domination (coffee, not bananas). Stunting of industrial development. Economic and social liberal thought. Strengthening of both export and education.

Early Liberal Reform: 

Early Liberal Reform Costa Rica’s reforms were based on developing: Political authority, Agricultural expansion, The civilization of the lower classes. This meant: Tighter administrative control, Privatization of common lands, Outlawing alternative medicines, and barbaric behavior like cock fighting, Cultural change.

Early Struggles of the 1900s: 

Early Struggles of the 1900s Consolidation of mobilisation and organisation, Development of the labour movement, Struggle for fair working conditions, Series of strikes.

STRIKES: 

STRIKES Bananas workers in 1910,1911,1913, 1919, 1921, 1934 - The Great Banana Strike / United Fruit Company plantation. The miners in 1906,1907,1911, 1919, 1920. Peasant protest against the privatization of land peaked at the end of the 1920s.

Urban / Rural Divides: 

Urban / Rural Divides “Merchants and professionals enthusiastically embraced the Enlightenment, Liberalism, Masonry and the ideology of Progress. In marked contrast to this modernist impulse, peasants and artisans remained faithful to local identities based on village or town traditions, with deep Catholic and colonial roots. This cultural separation underlay a growing social tension, one that became sharper over the second half of the nineteenth century” (Molina and Palmer 2006: 58).

Reform Governments: 

Reform Governments Democratic and social reformist advances continue. González Flores (1914-1917) government established a state bank and introduced direct taxation.

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Liberal economic reform and liberal educational reform. 1906 – 1936 The age of Don Cleto and Don Ricardo.

Important Dates: 

Important Dates 1903 – the United States sponsors the independence of Panama. 1910 – Earthquake destroys Cartago 1913 – Workers begin to celebrate May Day (labor day). Introduction of the direct vote. 1914 – Reformist government of Alfredo González Flores (1914-1917) Opening of the Panama canal. 1917 – Tinoco dictatorship (1917-1919). 1920 – Successful strikes for the 8 hour day. Influenza pandemic kills over 2,000 people. 1923 – Founding of the Reformist Party 1927 – Creation of Ministry of Public Health. Sandino´s struggle against United States occupation of Nicaragua. 1929 – Panic in San Jose over consumption of heroin by workers. Beginning of economic crisis of world capitalism. 1930 – Costa Rica firmly in economic crisis. 1931 – Founding of the Communist Party. (Molina and Palmer 2006)

1929 – 1939The vulnerability of coffee, the economic crash, the depression and the rise of communism.: 

1929 – 1939 The vulnerability of coffee, the economic crash, the depression and the rise of communism.

Development of the 1930s communist party: 

Development of the 1930s communist party Build up to the crash – coffee hording Void left by the break up of the Reform Party. Manuel Mora Valverde - Bloque de Obreros y Campesinos (The Farmers and Workers Block). Influential minor party, backed by novelists and intellectuals. They organised strikes among the banana workers in 1934, 1936 – growing support for the communist party - two representatives in Congress. (Perez-Brignoli 1989).

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1939 – 1948 Cortes, Calderón, communism and the catholic church.

Anti- Communist Measures: 

Anti- Communist Measures Opposition - National Republicans (PRN) PRN - elected a no-nonsense anticommunist León Cortés Castro. Civil rights record was widely questioned and his alleged ties with pro-German sympathies. He dissolved the Electoral Tribunal to deny the communists a seat in Congress.

Calderón: 

Calderón 1940 – 1944 Rafael Angel Calderón Guardia president of the PRN. Controversial election - three time president Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno withdrew his opposition. The opposition then supported Mora Valverde’s unsuccessful candidacy. Started to implement a ‘sweeping program of change and social progress’ Set in process the conflicts that led to the civil war.

Welfare Capitalism: 

Welfare Capitalism 1940 –Sanabria Martinez ascended to the post of archbishop of San Jose. Catholicism in the curriculum. Enlisted the Popular Vanguard Party of democratic communists. United the church and communist ideals of social equality to develop 1940’s ‘welfare capitalism’. 1940s – “a decisive decade in Costa Rica where egalitarian tendencies and democratic processes of the past reached a new level of effectiveness and definition” (Perez-Brignoli 1989).

The CCSS: 

The CCSS Founded in 1941 Central role in improving quality and standards of life. Helped to increase life expectancy for Costa Rican’s. By 1970s rose to over 70 years of age. Reduced the amount of infant mortality (13-20 per 1,000 births). Launched sickness and maternity health insurance (Clark 2001). CCSS - the only health insurance and pensions. Costa Rican’s right to health insurance /guaranteed health cover and attention. Employers are bound by law to pay worker’s health insurance. Workers contribute 8% of their wages, employers contribute 14% and the state contributes 0.5%. Health insurance extends to each worker’s dependents. Free membership to means-tested poor. (Clark 2001)

Costa Rica’s Commitment: 

Costa Rica’s Commitment Principals of UNIVERSALISM /COVERGAE OF SERVICES and SOLIDARITY

1943 - The Labor Code: 

1943 - The Labor Code Provided: Minimum pay. Pensions - before only teachers (established in 1886) the military (1888), telecommunications (1918) postal workers (1923), railroad workers (1935) the judiciary (1939) recieved pensions. Paid holidays. (Clark 2001).

However!: 

However! Middle class opposition organised in opposition to Calderon: 1940 - Centre for the Study of Social Problems 1944 - Democratic Action Organisation which developed into 1945 - Social Democratic Party 1944-1948 Teodoro Picado Michalski (PRN) widespread accusations of fraud and intimidation.

OUTBREAK OF CIVIL WAR: 

OUTBREAK OF CIVIL WAR

BREAK: 

BREAK

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1948 – 1949 Figueres, the civil war, ousting the communists, the new constitution and civil guarantees.

Civil war outcome: 

Civil war outcome 1948 –1952 Otilio Ulate - president Jose Figueres Ferrer - president of the Founding Committee of the Second Republic (the junta). 1949 – junta changes to the constitution: Armed forces abolished on favour of a national police force Banking system nationalised. Women and the Afro-Caribbean population get the vote. The TSE – fourth branch of government. The new constitution directed the state to provide “free and compulsory education to all citizens” (Clark 2001).

1949 – 1979 The Welfare State and “the 30 Golden Years”: 

1949 – 1979 The Welfare State and “the 30 Golden Years”

The National Liberation Party (PLN): 

The National Liberation Party (PLN) 1953-1958 - Figueres elected president of new party committed to the ideals of the revolution - The PLN. 1950s – a period of economic and cultural growth.

1953 – 1958José Figueres / Don Pepe: 

1953 – 1958 José Figueres / Don Pepe Baby boom – population growth (6-7%) / new demands on the welfare state. Outlawed the communist party. Goal – to build a nation of teachers not military. Pushed through the Fundamental Law of Education - ensured that the Ministry of Education carry out the constitutional educational reforms. Developed the autonomous institutions to run the welfare state. Opposition from the doctor’s union –pressure not to expand the welfare state.

1960s : 

1960s 1962-1966 - Francisco J. Orlich - PLN legislative assembly majority. The PLN dominated legislative assembly started to push harder for expansion of a “universal” welfare state and coverage grew from 15% to 50% of the population. (Clark 2001)

Social Issues and Movements: 

Social Issues and Movements Struggles re-defined: 1960s - The environmental movement. Visiting scientists and initiation of nature tourism. Environmental visionaries and key political players - adopted the United States conservation model - Yellow Stone park.

1950s/60s Indigenous Issues: 

1950s/60s Indigenous Issues Received global attention. Adopted by the mainstream as the idealized culture and defined as the epic-archaeological people and heroes of the colonial times (PNUD 2003). Further marginalized them by sustaining the concept of the “other” Struggles – integration into society/ citizenship while respecting cultural difference.

Figueres 1970 – 1974: 

Figueres 1970 – 1974 Second term Enabling environment. Extended the welfare state to certain sectors – Afro-Caribbeans. Color bar –”movement restrictions law” dropped – access to better central valley services. Allowed the communist party to re-form. Figueres provided the welfare state with the resources to extend coverage – “to make it truly universal” (Clark 2001).

1970s Women’s Movement: 

1970s Women’s Movement Guided by the international feminist movement scene and agenda. Push for international conventions and laws to be translated into national policy Increased citizenship, rights and participation in social and political spaces.

Long History: 

Long History 1923 - Costa Rican Feminist League formed. 1940s - Strengthened criticism of the government / opening up of political spaces. - The Federated Workers Union – made up mostly of female teachers. 1944 - Calderón Guardia said “we don’t need women to defend our rights” 1949 - Right of suffrage. (Brenes Marin 1998) 1976-1985 - UN Decade for Women.

Daniel Oduber 1974 - 1978 : 

Daniel Oduber 1974 - 1978 Second consecutive term for the PLN. Aggressive welfare reform program. Extension of public services: INS started to provide worker’s compensation insurance. Disease eradication and inoculation campaign. Extension of safe drinking water to all parts of country (Clark 2001).

1970/80sImmigration: 

1970/80s Immigration Diversification of agriculture, Additional labor force needed - neighboring Nicaraguans. Coffee pickers - labor force campaign. Nicaraguans fleeing the civil strife. Economic, social and cultural needs - basis for civil struggle.

Oduber’s 1974-1978 administration: 

Oduber’s 1974-1978 administration Economic focus = public spending. Government synonymous with corruption, channelling money through the CODESA institution to pay off political players (Clark 2001). Won his election campaign on a ‘down with corruption’ cry (Cerdas Cruz 1990). Introduction of a series of reforms, implemented with remarkable speed, for example: the universalization of social security, his own programme of family assistance, extended state services and public roads, increased the purchase of the amount of land to be distributed among peasants and stimulated the modernisation of communications and the production of electric power (Cerdas Cruz 1990).

The Unsustainable Welfare State: 

The Unsustainable Welfare State Bloating of the welfare state apparatus - Between 1948 and 1977, 119 new state institutions and services were created (Clark 2001) State's social commitments run up a huge public sector debt. 1979 - Economic crisis. Weakening of the welfare state.

next session: 

next session crisis, debt, recovery and impact on welfare sector. The sharpening of social strife.

Conclusion: 

Conclusion Goal to provide 100/ universal coverage of basic services: water, electricity, health care. Provided three decades of stability and growth. Boosted educational facilities, opportunities and abilities. Secured many previously marginalized sectors – women and maternity cover, the poor and access to health insurance. An “urban-white / middle class bias” coverage. Marginalized sectors -The indigenous community /rural sector / Nicaraguan work force. Huge public sector – unsustainable. Run on - low taxes, high costs.

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POLITICAL PARTIES THE PLN, PUSC AND PAC.

PLN: 

PLN PLN agenda really dominated the period from 1948 – 1979, 1948 constitution laid down a clear path for the revitalisation of capitalism through the PLN agenda: state intervention, industrial diversification, the weakening of the traditional coffee growing oligarch, the emergence of a new middle class capitalist sector, the opening up of Costa Rica for regional integration. PLN: Figueres (1953-1958), Orlich (1962-1966), Figueres Ferrer (1970-1974) Oduber (1974-1978) Monge (1982-1984). Arias (1986-1990) Figueres Olsen (1994-1998) The PLN can’t be soley blamed for creating debt crisis.

Unidad/PUSC: 

Unidad/PUSC The opposition: the Ulate administration (1949-1953), Echandi (1958 –1962) Trejos (1966-1970) and Carazo (1978-1982) Calderon Fournier (1990-1994) (Carazo was with PLN, but left in 1969 to form Renovacion Democratica which then allied with other parties to form Unidad to oppose the PLN (Clark 2001). Dominate features: protecting the interests of the traditional agro-export sector, trying to readjust government fiscal spending and put the domestic economy into order, not considering social factors as the crux to development, implementing austerity programmes weakening state intervention in the economy moves to re-privatise the banks. (Rovira Mas 2000)

PAC: 

PAC Partido de Accion Ciudadania. Otton Solis and Epsy Campbell. Liberal left, social democrats. Broke from the PLN. Criticize unregulated free trade policy and restructuring of the welfare state. Argue - CAFTA needs to be renegotiated.

Discussion: 

Discussion Group work: What stuck out for you in Costa Rica’s most recent history and development? What socio-political issues propelled social struggles? Do you think that the early and successful weakening of the oligarch subdued the potential for social struggles and social movement formation? Why? Does the long history and extent of the welfare state in Costa Rica surprise you?

QUIZ 2: 

QUIZ 2

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

BIBLIOGRAPHY Brenes Marin (1998) The Women's Movement, Its History, Its Struggles and its achievements: The Case of Costa Rica. Clark, M, A. (2001) Gradual Economic Reform in Latin America. The Costa Rica Experience. State University of New York, New York. Molina and Palmer (2006) The History of Costa Rica. UCR, San Jose. Perez-Brignoli, H. (1989) A Brief History of Central America. University of California Press. Oxford, England. PNUD (2003) El Desafio de la Multiculturalidad. Segundo Informe sobre Desarrollo Humano en Centroamérica y Panama. San Jose,Costa Rica. Rovira Mas,J. (2000) Estado Político Económica en Costa Rica: 1948-1970. EUCR, San Jose. Torres-Rivas (1989) Interpretación del Desarrollo Social Centroamericano. FLACSO, San Jose.