Cultural cleavages in Central America

The case of Afro-Americans and the national state in Costa Rica

authored by

W. Gabbert

Abstract

As the violent conflict between the Sandinista government of Nicaragua and the ethnic minorities of the Atlantic coast in the 1980s has shown, the problem of national integration in the Central American countries is especially great with regard to their Atlantic regions. This article discusses the development of the Atlantic Costa Rican province of Limon, its history and ethnic makeup, which differ markedly from the rest of the country, and the often problematic relationship between the partly Afro-American regional population and the central government. For several decades the region was an economic enclave of the United Fruit Company. Since the withdrawal of the U.S. firm, the central government has attempted to integrate Limon into the national society, but severe social problems persist. Economic development policies have not sufficiently taken account of the needs and special cultural traditions of the local population.

External Organisation(s)

Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin)

Type

Article

Journal

Asien Afrika Lateinamerika

Volume

27

Pages

159-178

No. of pages

20

ISSN

0323-3790

Publication date

1999

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geography, Planning and Development, Development

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions