The Costa Rica Civil War was the bloodiest event in 20th century Costa Rica history. It lasted for 44 days (from March 12 to April 24, 1948), during which approximately 2,000 people are believed to have died. The conflict was precipitated by the vote of the Costa Rican Legislature, dominated by pro-government representatives, to annul the results of the presidential election of 1948, alleging that the triumph of opposition candidate Otilio Ulate had been achieved by fraud. This caused a rebel army under commander Jose Figueres to rise up against the government of President Teodoro Picado, which it quickly defeated.
After the war, Figueres ruled for a year and a half as head of a provisional government junta which abolished the military and oversaw the election of the Assembly that produced the new Costa Rica Constitution of 1949. The constitution finally gave women and blacks the vote and, controversially, dismantled the 
country's armed forces - giving Costa Rica the sobriquet of 'the only country which doesn't have an army. The junta then stepped down and handed power to Ulate. Costa Rica has not experienced any political violence since then. Jose Figueres proved to be one of Costa Rica's most influential leaders of all time, instituting ground breaking social and economic progress.
Costa Rica continued its progressive social policies through the three decades after 1948 and enjoyed a gradual upward economic trend. The basic policy of the government in the decades after the 1970's was to become more independent agriculturally, but this actually caused a heavy dependence on imported goods needed for farming. Other problems were the continuing drop in the prices of coffee, bananas, and sugar. Costa Rica had also taken out loans to improve its infrastructure and when these loans came due, Costa Rica could not pay and soon its economy was in shambles. Magnifying the country's problems was the instability of Nicaragua and Panama, which did nothing else but hurt Costa Rica. The reputation of Central America as a place of violence and poverty stopped much potential investment. Also, Costa Rica's status as one of the wealthiest third world countries brought a flood of immigrants from its two neighboring countries, taking jobs and money out of the country.
In recent times, one of the most prominent political figures has been Oscar Arias Sanchez of the Partido de Liberacion Nacional (PLN) who was elected president in February 1986.In 1987, Oscar Arias Sanchez received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to break the cycle of civil war in the other Central American countries and foment the stability that continues. Currently Costa Rica enjoys a reputation as one of the most peaceful, prosperous, and least corrupt countries in Latin America.
In February 1998 the Social Christian Unity Party's Miguel Angel RodrÃguez won the presidency with almost exactly 50% of the vote. A conservative businessman who made the economy his priority, he went on to privatise state companies and encourage foreign investments in an effort to create jobs. By the time the February 2002 elections rolled around, however, Ticos (a term locals use to refer to themselves) were mumbling about a lack of government transparency and shady deals between political mates. These grass-roots misgivings resulted in a 'no win' election, and pollsters returned to the ballot box in April 2002. RodrÃguez's successor, Abel Pacheco of the conservative Social Christian Unity Party, was elected to step up to the president's ring. Pacheco began his term promising to eliminate the public debt within four years. He launched a conservationist platform banning new oil drilling and mining and proposed legislation guaranteeing citizens the right to a healthy environment. It didn't take long before the sheen paled. A campaign finance scandal clouded his presidency, leading some opponents to demand his resignation, and it became unclear if he could weather this storm through to the end of his term in 2006.
Oscar Arias Sanchez was relected president for a second time, by a narrow margin, in 2006.
Costa Rica will return to the polls in 2010
Costa Rica still has a large agricultural sector including coffee, banana, pineapple and sugar exports. In the last twenty years, eco-tourism and technology have taken off and become top-earning industries in the country. Costa Ricans enjoy a high standard of living, and land ownership is widespread. The country boasts a high literacy rate, a large middle class and a stable government that has functioned without an army for more than 50 years.
country's armed forces - giving Costa Rica the sobriquet of 'the only country which doesn't have an army. The junta then stepped down and handed power to Ulate. Costa Rica has not experienced any political violence since then. Jose Figueres proved to be one of Costa Rica's most influential leaders of all time, instituting ground breaking social and economic progress.Costa Rica continued its progressive social policies through the three decades after 1948 and enjoyed a gradual upward economic trend. The basic policy of the government in the decades after the 1970's was to become more independent agriculturally, but this actually caused a heavy dependence on imported goods needed for farming. Other problems were the continuing drop in the prices of coffee, bananas, and sugar. Costa Rica had also taken out loans to improve its infrastructure and when these loans came due, Costa Rica could not pay and soon its economy was in shambles. Magnifying the country's problems was the instability of Nicaragua and Panama, which did nothing else but hurt Costa Rica. The reputation of Central America as a place of violence and poverty stopped much potential investment. Also, Costa Rica's status as one of the wealthiest third world countries brought a flood of immigrants from its two neighboring countries, taking jobs and money out of the country.
In recent times, one of the most prominent political figures has been Oscar Arias Sanchez of the Partido de Liberacion Nacional (PLN) who was elected president in February 1986.In 1987, Oscar Arias Sanchez received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to break the cycle of civil war in the other Central American countries and foment the stability that continues. Currently Costa Rica enjoys a reputation as one of the most peaceful, prosperous, and least corrupt countries in Latin America.
In February 1998 the Social Christian Unity Party's Miguel Angel RodrÃguez won the presidency with almost exactly 50% of the vote. A conservative businessman who made the economy his priority, he went on to privatise state companies and encourage foreign investments in an effort to create jobs. By the time the February 2002 elections rolled around, however, Ticos (a term locals use to refer to themselves) were mumbling about a lack of government transparency and shady deals between political mates. These grass-roots misgivings resulted in a 'no win' election, and pollsters returned to the ballot box in April 2002. RodrÃguez's successor, Abel Pacheco of the conservative Social Christian Unity Party, was elected to step up to the president's ring. Pacheco began his term promising to eliminate the public debt within four years. He launched a conservationist platform banning new oil drilling and mining and proposed legislation guaranteeing citizens the right to a healthy environment. It didn't take long before the sheen paled. A campaign finance scandal clouded his presidency, leading some opponents to demand his resignation, and it became unclear if he could weather this storm through to the end of his term in 2006.Oscar Arias Sanchez was relected president for a second time, by a narrow margin, in 2006.
Costa Rica will return to the polls in 2010
Costa Rica still has a large agricultural sector including coffee, banana, pineapple and sugar exports. In the last twenty years, eco-tourism and technology have taken off and become top-earning industries in the country. Costa Ricans enjoy a high standard of living, and land ownership is widespread. The country boasts a high literacy rate, a large middle class and a stable government that has functioned without an army for more than 50 years.
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