History, Geography, Socio-political Aspects of Costa Rica

This is a detailed program description. This is a 4 week course, 4 hours per day and includes home stay. The cost of this course is $1400.

This course is made of two distinct but integrated programs. “Contacto Cultural,” and “Enfoque Histórico”, both components constitute a single unit.

“Contacto Cultural” focuses on the process of learning about the language and culture by means of a direct hands-on community contact. Students are given different tasks they must perform outside classroom with the cooperation of Costa Ricans. Once the student has documented the assigned task, he/she will give a brief presentation of the results.

“Enfoque Histórico” attempts to provide the student with a general knowledge about the country’s history, economy, and politics. All different topics will be covered in chronological or in thematic order. Students will be asked to write short essays on different topics.

Program Description

GEOGRAPHY

1. The Costa Rican territory: fundamental characteristics

1.1 Costa Rica: biological and cultural aspects
1.2 Geopolitics of Costa Rica
1.3 Costa Rica and Central America: specific aspects
Video: Art, History, and Beauty of Costa Rica

HISTORY: SOUTH PACIFIC AND GOLFITO

1. History of the region
2. The transnational capital and the development of the banana trade
3. Regional economy
Video: The Province of Puntarenas

HISTORY: THE ANTIQUE CULTURES, THE CONQUEST AND THE COLONY

1. The Old World: general characteristics
2. The European expansion and the conquest of the “New World”
3. The colonial model

READINGS

1. Chavarria, Sandra. Las Estructuras de Dominación en Costa Rica: De la Época
Colonial a los Albores del Estado Nacional. San José, Euned, 1991, pp. 36-62
2. Ibarra, Eugenia y Payne,Eliseth.Costa Rica en el siglo XVI. San José, Euned 1991, pp. 53-62.
Video: Intima Raiz

HISTORY: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE

1. The climate of independence
2. The Central American Federation and Costa Rica
3. The development of the state and the political instability (1840-1870)
4. Agrarian Capitalism and the Incorporation of Costa Rica in the World Market.
5. The War between 1856-1857

HISTORY

The Central Valley: Región Oriental (Cartago)
1. The Central Valley
1.2 Cartago
1.2.1 Its importance in the colony
1.2.2 Activities in production
1.2.3 Regional characteristics
Video: Province of Cartago

HISTORY

The Atlantic Region: Limón
1. Limón
1.1 Importance for the National Economy
1.2 Afrocaribbean Culture
Video: Province of Limón

HISTORY

Consolidation and Crisis of the Costa Rican Liberal Model
1. The liberal State: economic, social, political, and religious characteristics
2. The consolidation of agricultural exportation: Development of the railway and the
banana enclave
3. The crisis of the liberal model and the political alternatives

HISTORY

Reformism, Civil War, New Political Constitution (1940 - 1949)
1. The transition to the reformist model
2. The Armed conflict of 1948
3. The Constitution of 1949

HISTORY

Culmination and Crisis of the Social Democratic Model (1940 - 1982)
1. The political parties
2. Administration by the State: National Development
3. Growing of the State System
4. The Crisis of the Administration

HISTORY

Northern Pacific: Guanacaste
1. Northern Pacific
1.1 Activities in production
1.2 Society and Culture
1.3 Guanacaste and National Folklore

ACTUAL COSTA RICA

1. SOCIAL CRISIS
2. DIFFERENT ROLES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN
3. INTERVIEWS AND VIDEOS