The pandemic caused by the spread of COVID-19 and the economic consequences of the measures taken to mitigate it are putting Latin American political systems in tension. Our series of webinars explore the effects of the crisis on democracy and state-citizen relationships across countries.
The conversation on Costa Rica took place on September 24, 2020, with the participation of Ilka Treminio Sánchez (Director FLACSO, Prof. University of Costa Rica and Red de Politólogas) and Ronald Alvarado Alfaro (CIEP, University of Costa Rica).
The events are coordinated by Daniela Campello (Getulio Vargas Foundation) and Yanina Welp (Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy). Picture of the event.
The situation in short
Costa Rica was considered a successful case of pandemic management until a few weeks ago when the number of infected people suddenly started to grow, in parallel with pressure for economic reopening. Currently, the government is leaving health management asides and focuses on negotiating credit by the International Monetary Fund. The far-right, which reached the second round in the presidential elections of 2018, is still on the prowl and taking advantage of the situation. Contradicting Inglehart and Norris's theories of cultural change (which attribute more liberal and progressive ideological positions to young people) support comes mainly from the youth. To complete the pessimistic perspective the long-standing Costa Rican democracy is facing nowadays, the experts in conversation during the webinar suggestednews media reporting in the country is biased and incomplete.
MAIN POINTS EMERGING FROM THE CONVERSATION
Costa Rica was considered a successful case of pandemic management until a few weeks ago when the number of infected people suddenly started to grow, in parallel with pressure for economic reopening. Currently, the government is leaving health management asides and focuses on negotiating credit by the International Monetary Fund. The far-right, which reached the second round in the presidential elections of 2018, is still on the prowl and taking advantage of the situation. Contradicting Inglehart and Norris's theories of cultural change (which attribute more liberal and progressive ideological positions to young people) support comes mainly from the youth. To complete the pessimistic perspective the long-standing Costa Rican democracy is facing nowadays, the experts in conversation during the webinar suggestednews media reporting in the country is biased and incomplete.
1. Airport and school lockdowns, mobility restrictions, no mandatory confinement
The country's regulatory framework does not include any specific figure for a situation such as that created by the pandemic. A state of exception was declared but, as in Uruguay, it does not include total confinement. Measures such as the closure of schools and economic activity were taken but there were no restrictions on mobility that could be punishable. What was activated was a traffic control system that was expected to have direct effects by reducing mobility, said Ronald Alfaro. This worked relatively well but in recent weeks, contagions increased at the same time as the demand for the reopening of businesses and the restoration of activity.
2. The exceptionality of Costa Rica is over
Ilka Treminio explained that, in April and May, studies that sought to explain the Costa Rican success proliferated. Now all the arguments related to cultural attributes and or the strength of the health public sector are outdated because infections have rapidly skyrocketed, although mortality has not soared yet. Confinement was not useless, as in contributed to strengthening a public health system with universal coverage. Then, what went wrong? With 46% of workers in the informal economy and limited measures, a lockdown was not a sustainable solution for many. Indeed, unemployment rose to a historic 24%.
3. The government replaces the focus on the public health for the economic revival
Ronald Alfaro described three stages in government management. The first, from March to June, accounts for plansto protect health and develop the health sector that received broad support from the population. The second, between June and September, saw infections and the pressure to reopen increase. The third, which is ongoing, prioritises the negotiation of a loan with the IMF.
4. Behind the agreements with the IMF lurks“clientelist” relations with the United States
The Central American country has accessed loans and is currently negotiating a large loan with the IMF. The entire political debate in the country currently revolves around this. On one hand, the Central American Integration System (SICA) has not worked to date because there are no strong actors capable of moving economic and political integration forward. On the other hand, credits with the IMF have conditioned other negotiations, such as that of the IDB leadership. In Treminio's words, they are ‘client relationships’ rather than institutional relationships.
5. Radicalization of the economic and cultural discourse on the right
The two analysts pointed out that although radical far-right populism, which includes sectors of neo-Pentecostalism, have gained positions in recent years, so far the system has always tended towards moderation. Still, they expressed pessimism because recent research showed that the endorsement of these groups is higher among the younger cohorts. Treminio’s research found a deviation from Inglehart's predictions of cultural change:hile the global trend is for the new generations to adopt the most liberal positions (support for abortion, equal marriage), in Costa Rica there was statistically significant support among the young electorate - from 18 to 35 years old - towards the extreme right party Restauración Nacional (controlling other factors). Growing inequality, unemployment, and detachment from traditional political parties may explain the appeal of this populist option to Costa Rican youth. At the same time, Alfaro stressed as a positive development that during this period same-sex marriage entered into force.
6. The media is biased and this is also undermining the political system
The mainstream news media reports from the legislative assembly, the government, and party headquarters. However, does not report what is happening in the territory or what the unions and workers think. Employers, however, are given a voice. This was understood by our experts as a mechanism of manipulation and erosion of public confidence.
Link to the full event in Spanish: https://bit.ly/36frLhN