A general survey of the complex heritage of Central America, with an emphasis on Costa Rica, examined through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary view, focusing on the historical development and present day dynamics of economy, society, politics and culture. Special attention will be given to topics such as identity formation, education, peace and democracy, communal and ideological movements.

Reference books, texts, support material, and audio-visual equipment. Visiting speakers. The course includes fieldtrips to the National Theater, the House of Congress, the National Museum, the Modern Art Museum, the Jade Museum, and the Gold Museum.

Part I. Early Historic and Socioeconomic Development
1.1 Pre-Columbian times and conditions.
1.2 Colonial and early independence periods: Costa Rica, a place in Central and Latin America.
1.3 Commercial agriculture and social development: the coffee, a complex organization and expansion.
1.4 Patterns, settlements and regional development.
1.5 Class formation: the rise of the oligarchy and development of the labor force.
1.6 Opening up the economy: railroads, banana plantations and politics.

Part II. National identity and State formation
2.1 Ethnic diversity: its contribution to culture and identity development.
2.2 The oligarchic state: its military, educational and republican institutions.
2.3 The national liberation war of 1856: its national meaning and impact on militarism.
2.4 Political groups, parties and social movements: the rise of competitive politics and elections since 1889.
2.5 Civil society, economic liberalism and the role of the liberal-democratic state.
2.6 The great crash of 1929: its impact on the economy, society and the State.

Part III. Modern Ideological Movements, the Middle Class, and the Development of the Welfare State
3.1 The critique of the liberal state and oligarchic society:nationalism, communism and democratic socialism in perspective.
3.2 The middle classes, the struggle for democracy and crisis of political participation: the civil war of 1948.
3.3 Abolition of the army: its social and political consequences.
3.4 The formation of the populist and welfare State: growth of a new public sector.
3.5 Transition to democracy.
3.6 The role of the mass media in social and political communications.

Part IV. Crisis of a Development Model and the Recent Challenges of Globalization
4.1. Origins and nature of the economic crisis of 1982.
4.2. The end of social equity economics and the implementation of structural readjustment plans.
4.3. Patterns of unequal and combined development: Central America and Costa Rica. The Central American Common Market and beyond.
4.4. Changes in State – Civil Society relations.
4.5. Quality of democracy: the citizen´s perspective.