A2 / Politics / South America

Costa Rica’s Peaceful Path

Level: A2

Costa Rica is a small country in Central America. It is famous for beautiful forests, beaches, and friendly people. But one thing makes Costa Rica special in the world: it does not have an army. Costa Rica stopped having soldiers more than 70 years ago, and it uses the money it saved to educate its people and build a better life for them.

A New Idea After War

In 1948, Costa Rica had a short civil war, a fight between people inside the country. After the war ended, the new president José Figueres Ferrer made a bold decision. He abolished the army, which means the country would not have soldiers or a military force anymore.

On December 1, 1948, he famously took a hammer and destroyed part of the army base wall to show that the army was gone for good. This act became a symbol of peace for the nation.

The next year, the Constitution, the most important law in Costa Rica, said in Article 12 that the army was officially ended. The army was no longer allowed.

Investing in People

Without an army to pay for, Costa Rica’s government had more money for schools and hospitals. Instead of spending money on soldiers and weapons, they spent it on improving people’s education, healthcare, and environment.

This change helped the country grow in many ways:

• Education: Nearly all children go to school, and Costa Rica has one of the highest literacy rates in Latin America.
• Healthcare: Everyone can get medical help when they need it, and people live longer and healthier lives.
• Nature Protection: Costa Rica uses money to protect forests, animals, and rivers, making it one of the world’s leaders in conservation.

Because the country focuses so much on people’s well-being, Costa Rica often ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world.

Life Without an Army

Even though Costa Rica does not have a traditional army, it still has a public security force to keep people safe. This force acts like a police group that protects towns and roads.

People in Costa Rica believe that peace is better than war, and they try to solve problems using talks and laws, not violence. This idea has helped Costa Rica stay stable and peaceful for many years.

Why This Matters

Costa Rica’s choice to abolish its army is a great example to the world. It shows that a country can be safe, peaceful, and successful without spending money on a military. Instead, it can invest in people, their education, health, and future.

This decision makes Costa Rica truly unique. In a world with many conflicts, a country that chose peace first is worth exploration and understanding.

Fun Insights

Here are some rare and thoughtful facts to make the article even richer:

🔹 Costa Rica is one of the first countries in the world to abolish its military, and the decision became part of its Constitution in 1949, soon after its civil war ended.

🔹 The money saved from not having an army has helped Costa Rica invest in education, healthcare, and environmental protection, and this has created some of the highest health and literacy levels in Latin America.

🔹 Costa Rica is often called a global role model for peace, showing that a country can focus on people and nature instead of war and weapons.

Definitions

Army – a group of trained soldiers who protect a country.

Abolish – to stop something officially, so it does not exist anymore.

Civil war – a war between people of the same country.

Constitution – the most important law of a country.

Healthcare – medical services that help people stay healthy.

🗣️ Seven Talking Points

Why do you think Costa Rica chose no army instead of having one?

If your country didn’t have an army, what could it do with the money saved?

Do you think peace is always better than having an army? Why?

How important is education in your country?

What might be some problems if a country has no military?

Why do you think people in Costa Rica often feel happy and safe?

How do you think other countries view Costa Rica because of this decision?