'No Army' History  

No Army

Brad (63.176.159.174) -

Don't you think we could learn something from the History of Costa Rica? Specifically how well they've done without military forces?

Or, do they just get protection from the United States?

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Comment #1 David N Cook (71.160.254.70) -

CR abolished the army after an attempted coup on the late 1940's. Army officers aligned themselves with the losers of an election to try and take over the government. This has been a common occurence in Latin America since the Spanish left in 1815. The people reacted behind the leadership of "Don Pepe" Figures (known as the father of modern CR) to establish a new govt and abolish the army and the "officer class" that had become a political force. CR still has a national police force called the Guardia Civil; I have also seen uniforms with Guardia Rural patches. There are also some other national police groups with specfic duties like drug patrols and immigration control. CR does have serious problems with these and other issues requiring a national control and outlook. There has been talk of a "tourist police" to help with trouble areas where tourists have been bothered with rip-offs and etc. They might be better off spending money fixing the roads; I understand they have really gotten a lot worse in the past few years! I think what CR really eliminated was an army class as a political force that had to approve any changes in the govt that was so common in LatinAmerica. Most of these regimes are gone now, replaced by democratic systems that CR has enjoyed for so many years now!

Please feel free to e-mail me back

I love CR and its people

David N Cook

Oxnard, CA USA

Comment #2 Ted (64.76.34.207) -

What keeps those from Panama or Nicaragua or elsewhere from invading Costa Rica? Those countries both seem to have armies that don't always exercise suitable self control.

Can a country really survive without a good military force to keep outside (armed) aggressors out?

Comment #3 sandy from baytown, tx -

That is so interesting. I was totally oblivious to the fact that Costa Rica has no army! That's really amazing that they have survived without an army. I was always under the assumption that a country needs an army to survive and be protected.

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