Cultural Sidebar #6 - An Army of Teachers

Something incredibly unique about Costa Rica is that it does not maintain a military force. Following a civil war in 1948, Costa Rica abolished its military and put those funds previously dedicated to the military in other areas, particularly education. For many decades, Costa Rica reserved 8% of its federal budget specifically for public education, and this was actually enshrined in the national constitution. However, in recent years, Costa Rica has begun rolling back that percentage for education. It's not my place to take a side on domestic budgetary debates, but I’ll acknowledge these education cuts have become a controversial issue in Costa Rica recently. 

As someone with an international relations and conflict resolution background, I find Costa Rica’s lack of armed forces fascinating. Although there have been small incidences of violence (mainly riots or protests) since the military’s abolition in 1948, Costa Rica hasn’t come close to participating in a significant armed conflict. It is perceived worldwide as an incredibly peaceful country. The UN even has a University for Peace in Costa Rica! If Costa Rica did ever find itself in an armed conflict, the United States, a close ally, would most likely offer military support.

As I write this blog, Costa Rica is celebrating el Día de la Abolicón del Ejército, or the Day of the Abolition of the Military, which occurs on December 1. My school had an assembly, or acto cívico, to mark the occasion. Because the education budget largely replaced the military budget, Ticos often say that their country has a “Army of Teachers”.



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