Taught In English

There is no language prerequisite for courses at this language level.

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
Course name: Costa Rican Tradition: peace and democracy
Course code: POL 3100
Total contact hours: 48 hours

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The general objective of this course is to discuss, with students, the social, economic and political issues of the process of construction of peace and democracy in Costa Rica and Central America (1948-2005).

OBJECTIVES
* To define culture from a theoretical point of view in order to create the frame-work for the analysis of Costa Rican culture, in comparison with the North-American one.
* To emphasize the importance of history in understanding the culture of present day Costa Rica.
* To discuss different aspects of Costa Rica's cultural evolution, such as ethnic background, both pre- and post- Columbian, social and political organization, economy, language and literature, art, folkloric instruments, etc; giving statistical data of other countries as a matter of comparison.
* To discuss present day issues of all aspects of Costa Rican society obtaining a framework for understanding the Tico´s identity and values.
* To define and discuss briefly the heritage and social evolution of Costa Rica, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary overview.

SESSION CONTENT
PART ONE:
Peace and Democracy Defined - An Introduction to the Latin American and Costa Rican context

Session 1
Definitions: Defining Peace and Democracy. International and National Ideas and Paths.

Session 2
The Historical Development of Democracy in Costa Rica. Part One: Timelines and Events.

Session 3
The Historical Development of Democracy in Costa Rica. Part Two: Introduction to The Main Costa Rican Democratic Contributors.

Session 4/5
City tour (Double session).
The Presidents and Costa Rica's most celebrated main historical events - their contribution to democracy. (next session pay back and questionnaire completion)

Session 6
Building the Context:
Peace and Democracy in the Latin American Region.

Session 7
Comparing Costa Rica to other Nations: The Case of Nicaragua: Democracy Vs
Dictatorship.

Session 8
Close up on Oscar Arias.

Session 9
Field Trip: Arias Peace Museum (Double Session) (next session pay back and questionnaire completion)

Session 10
Field Trip follow up.
Discussion: What will Oscar Arias´ second term do for peace and democracy in the region?

Session 11
Research Project briefs/outlines.
Research support session.

Session 12
Quiz preparation and interview activity.

Session 13
Mid-term quiz and interview follow up.
PART TWO:
Denial of Basic Social Citizenship Rights and Access to Democracy: Excluded sectors:

Session 14
The Case of Costa Rica's Indigenous People and Afro-Caribbean Community.

Session 15
The Case of Women: The Costa Rican Women's Movement and Democracy.

Session 16
The Case of the Costa Rican Poor.
Immigration and exclusion.

Session 17
CAFTA, Peace and Democracy: Neo-liberal limits and opportunities for the negotiation of democracy.

Session 18
Sustainable Development Process and Policy for Peace and Democracy in Costa Rica: Advancing the development/ Catalyst for Consolidation.

Session 19/20
Site Visit: Peace University
(double session)

Session 21
Field Trip Follow up and debate –Democracy - Smokescreen or success? Where is democracy heading?

Session 22
Exam

Session 23
Conclusions/ Future Action: Agenda for Peace and Democracy in Central America and Costa Rica.
Presentations.

Session 24
Presentations.

EVALUATION SYSTEM
Class attendance: 20%
Homework and discussion participation: 15%
Short evaluations (Quiz 1):10%
Class project (Oral presentations: mid-term 5, final 15):20%
Class project (Written: out-line 2, med 3, final 15): 20%
Quiz 2 (Ch 5-10 + classes):15%

Audience
This course is structured for International Students attending the Study Abroad program at Universidad Veritas. However, courses are not exclusive to foreigners so a few native student could enroll in this course.

Attendance
Students are only allowed 2 absences (justified or not). The student will fail the course if he/she has more than 2 absences. Students will have a 0 on any assignment evaluated in class (presentations, evaluations, field trips, etc.) if he/she is absent in this class, unless an official document is presented to justify the absence the class after the absence. In this case the assignment will be done this day. An unjustified absence to a fieldtrip will immediately mean failing the course. You can only have two total absences in your elective courses HOWEVER, if you miss more than one day of class in a given month, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT for that particular course.

Behavior
Professors have the right to expel a student from the classroom should he / she:
1) be disruptive in the classroom
2) be under the influence of alcohol or even smell like alcohol
3) Behave in a disrespectful way.
If you tend to be late for class, you will lose 25% of your total grade

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. BIESANZ, Mavis Hiltunen et al. 1999. The Ticos: culture and social change in Costa Rica. Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., Colorado, USA.
2. BIESANZ, Richard et al. 1982. The Costa Ricans. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA.
CONRAD, Phillip K. 1991. Anthropology: the exploration of human diversity. Mac Growth Hill, 5th edition, New York, USA.
3. MULTIMEDIA ENCYCLOPEDIA. Costa Rica Explorer. 2001 edition.
4. ESTADO DE LA NACIÓN. Each October a whole report from previous year it is available via Internet (www.estadonacion.co.cr)