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Development, Democracy and Human Rights in Costa Rica

Linn Teetzel, B.Comm., M.P.A.
Coordinator, Local Government Programs
Capilano College, North Vancouver, British Columbia

Participation in the “Development, Democracy and Human Rights in Costa Rica” seminar was the most stimulating and exciting professional development experience I have had since joining the faculty of Capilano College in 1993. I returned to Canada feeling challenged and revitalized, with new ideas, information and many new contacts from Canada, the U.S. and Central America.

Our College has been actively involved in international education since the late 1980’s, and has undertaken a comprehensive range of international projects in countries including China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Lebanon and South America. These programs have been designed to help prepare students to work in multi-cultural and multi-national environments. Faculty members have been encouraged to incorporate international dimensions into the teaching, learning and service functions of the College.

During 2004 and 2005, I had the opportunity to travel Vietnam and China to meet with faculty members at several universities to determine if we could work together on projects in the area of local government, so that our faculty and students could be involved in international projects. Although there are many areas where successful projects have and could be launched, (for example, in Tourism), it quickly became obvious to me that the differences between the Canadian democratic tradition, and the Chinese and Vietnam Communist systems would make a project focused on government very difficult—especially for our Chinese and Vietnamese counterparts.

I decided to look more closely at Costa Rica, a democratic country, which I thought would have more in common with the Canadian democratic system, and where we would be able to build on the similarities in our political, economic and social systems. Much work has been done in both countries to protect the natural environment, and this continues to be an area of significant concern in both countries.

There were too many highlights of this seminar to list here, but the following have stayed foremost in my mind since returning home.

1. Through discussions with our faculty leader, Mario Fernández-Silva, Costa Rican academic, lawyer, historian and specialist in Political Science, Luis Guillermo Solis, Professor of History and Political Science at the University, and Jairo Hernandez, Lawyer, and Professor in Political Science at the University of Costa Rica, I gained an understanding as to how Costa Rica, with a history similar to that of other Central American countries until about 1948, was able to develop into stable democratic country with one of the highest rates of life expectancy in the world. After a civil war ending in 1948, the government decided to abolish the military, and focus on education, public health and social security as its priorities. This institutional structure was significant in enabling a middle class to emerge.
2. The discussion of what structures and institutions were and are critical to the development and continuing health of a democratic society have caused me to look more carefully at the institutions supporting—and weakening— democracy in my own country.
3. The challenges of the changing global environment as it impacts on Costa Rica and other Central American countries were discussed, with extreme concern expressed by virtually all presenters about the potential negative impacts of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
4. The visit to the Inter-American Human Rights Court was an opportunity to meet with some of the people who work in this autonomous judicial institution, and to learn more about this Court, whose purpose is the application and interpretation of the American Convention on Human Rights.
5. The lecture by Jorge Nowalski on “Human Security in Central America”, which examined threats to human security in Central American including structural vulnerabilities such as economic growth and changes, labor instabilities, and infrastructure, as well as a discussion about unsustainable development in the region, including poverty and survival capabilities.
6. Ana Leonor Ramirez’s presentation on “Migration and Human Rights in Central America”, which examined migration within the region as a result of persecution and armed conflicts; social and economic inequalities and natural disasters.
7. A post-seminar tour of Costa Rica, which included visits to Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde, and Manual Antonio. Approximately 18% of Costa Rica’s territory is constituted as National Park or Reserve, and these areas have some of the richest flora and fauna in the world. Guides in every part of the country were true ambassadors for their country—extremely well educated and knowledgeable, as well as passionate about what they were teaching the tourists about their home.

How this seminar will influence my future activities on campus:

1. I am planning to give presentations about the seminar to my students, and also to interested faculty members.
2. We are still considering the development of a project with Costa Rica in conjunction with CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency).
3. We are looking at possibilities for student and faculty exchanges in Costa Rica and British Columbia