Development, Democracy, and Human Rights in Costa Rica
Dr. Anthony Dahl
Associate professor of Spanish & Chair
Department of Foreign Languages
Spelman College
The title of the CIEE Seminar: Development, Democracy, and Human Rights in Costa
Rica attracted my attention immediately, since the previous two years, as Resident
Director of the Spelman Summer Study-Travel Program in Costa Rica, I had accompanied students from the Atlanta University Center to Costa Rica. There they had taken intensive Spanish courses at the Institute for Central American Development Studies (ICADS) in San Jose. However, I still did not feel that I knew enough about Costa Rica to really give the students the thorough pre-departure orientation that would prepare them for their trip, even though I had spent some eight weeks in the country over two years, so I saw participation in the CIEE Seminar as a golden opportunity to find out more about Costa Rica and to better prepare myself as resident director of the Spelman program.
As a professor at a Historically Black College, I was especially looking forward to finding out more information about the Atlantic Region, and about Costa Ricans of African descent. I had seen the economic plight of the area, but had also seen the emergence of Black Costa Rican politicians, ready to represent the area. I had also heard about the Nicaraguan refugees, and their influx into Costa Rica, and wished to find out how Costa Rican society, and the Costa Rican government was coping with illegal migration from their northern neighbor. Also, I was looking forward to experiencing again a country where protecting the environment was a priority, although I was hoping not to run into any snakes while I enjoyed the rich and diverse fauna and flora of Costa Rica.
Here is what I gained from the seminar:
--A better and deeper understanding of the political process in Costa Rica, its weaknesses and its strengths, as facilitated by politically-active and knowledgeable speakers like Dr. Jorge Nowalski, Luis Guillermo Solis and Jairo Hernandez. Through these presentations, seminar participants were able to put their finger on the political pulse of Costa Rica, which included the prediction that former Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias would become the next President of the country. These presentations were complemented by the visit to the Supreme Court and the Congress. Before, I didn't know, for example, about 'La Sala Cuarta' and its function; now I do.
--Through the presentation by Irene Aguilar: Migrants and Human Rights, I found out much more about illegal Nicaraguan migration to Costa Rica, its causes, and the human rights issued raised by their exploitation and neglect by the Costa Rican government. I also learned of a new wave of immigration from Colombia, although that issue was not addressed to any great extent in the seminar.
--The impact of tourism on the economy, society and politics of Costa Rica, and an idea of the imbalance in development between areas such as the Punta Leona Resort, where large-scale tourism has had a significant impact on the area, and a town such as Tarcoles, situated nearby, which remains impoverished.
--A better feel for the geography of Costa Rica with its many mountains and valleys, rain and cloud forests, volcanoes, flora and fauna, from butterflies to crocodiles.
--Encounter with a wide cross-section of Costa Ricans of different backgrounds, education and resources-from servers in the kitchen to members of congress-and an opportunity to tune into the Costa Rican psyche. Also a chance to become more familiar with Costa Rican cuisine, such as gallo pinto for breakfast, and the various combinations of 'casado.'
--A chance to meet and interact with academicians from other Colleges and universities in the U.S., who are interested in Costa Rica and Central America.
Internationalization Efforts on Spelman College Campus
At the moment I am in communication with The Institute for Central American Development Studies (ICADS) in an effort to plan the 2005 Spelman Study-Travel Program in Costa Rica. As part of the recruitment effort for this program, I will be distributing flyers in the Atlanta University Center with information and pictures of Costa Rica, hold information sessions for prospective participants, and conduct at least four hour-long orientation sessions for students who have paid their deposits. I will make a presentation on Costa Rica at a regular meeting of the Spanish Club, and also plan to ask the President of the Faculty Council to allow Dr.Yoko Ueda of Japan Studies (also a CIEE seminar participant) and me to make a joint presentation to faculty about our CIEE Seminar experiences.