Sidebar #35 - Talking Politics as a PCV

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, or PCV, I represent the federal government of the United States. And as you can see at the top of this blog, volunteers must make it clear that any of our personal views or perspectives are our own and should not be associated with the agency nor the US government. I have strong opinions on government; those who follow me on social media probably know that I've worked for Members of Congress and on a presidential campaign in the past. Equally, person-to-person diplomacy is a super important part of the Peace Corps mission. The more open I am about my beliefs, the more trust and kinship I’ll likely have with those in my community. So, as I navigate these conversations with Ticos, many who may ask what I think of Trump or Biden, I share my opinion, but also make it clear that my thoughts don’t represent the Peace Corps nor the government nor do they represent what many people in my country feel either. 

Tensions back home are high right now. Equally, opinions about the incumbent administration in the Oval Office are quite polarizing in other countries too, so this is something I’ve had to navigate a bunch lately in Costa Rica. Recently, there was a “No King’s Day” protest outside the American embassy in Pavas. Peace Corps Volunteers were reminded that they are allowed to express their political beliefs and maintain freedom of speech, but must do so in in accordance with the law as well as in their capacity as a private citizen, not representing the agency. (I did not attend so I can’t really comment on anything about the protests.)


Another interesting part about talking politics as a PCV is that although we are more than welcome to share our thoughts on the American government, we are instructed not to share our beliefs about domestic politics in the host country. As I write this, Costa Rica is preparing for its next presidential election in 2026. And as much as I like to share my political opinions as a politics junkie, I think this is a really smart rule. We’re here as guests and we are not experts on local politics. It is important to maintain neutrality since we’ll work with counterparts on every side of the aisle. Also - we can’t vote anyway, so we quite literally don’t have a voice in the host country's political process.







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