QCOSTARICA — The most recent report from the “informe del programa Análisis de Coyuntura de la Sociedad Costarricense” (Current Situation Analysis of Costa Rican Society program), run by the School of Sociology at the National University (UNA), highlights that the confrontation between political decision-making bodies and the powers of the republic, the violence manifested in the streets, and the abandonment of agendas favoring the defense of human rights represent symptoms that the Costa Rican state is moving toward a state of structural violence “that is spreading throughout the national territory.”
This situation facilitates a gap in the generation of important agreements for the country, while economic and social inequality continues to affect the population, which is perceptible in areas such as education, the environment, social programs, and public infrastructure.
Carlos Carranza Villalobos, a UNA academic and program coordinator, was critical, noting that “through the analysis of various key issues, a situation marked by political tensions, structural challenges, and a general sense of uncertainty is exposed.”
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UNA officials noted that what had been warned about in previous reports on this program became a constant in the first four months of 2025: President Rodrigo Chaves’ discursive style is marked by confrontation with other political and social sectors, as is the case with the Legislative Assembly, and particularly with the president of the legislative branch, Rodrigo Arias.
“Using confrontational messages, directing them through channels outside of formal communication, and fueled by the absence of a leader in the Ministry of the Presidency (Chief of Staff office) to serve as a bridge, are part of the relationships established during the period under review. However, this clash has gone far beyond the Zapote-Cuesta de Moras (executive and legislative branches) relationship and was amplified in the march against the Attorney General, in which the president himself and his cabinet participated,” the UNA highlighted.
Furthermore, it was noted that the continued use of the presidential veto on bills that are not in the interest of the Executive Branch and the increased tensions with other institutions such as the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) complement the government’s style.
“This attitude has contributed to an atmosphere of polarization and weakening of institutional dialogue,” Carranza added.
Structural violence is not only fueled by the government’s confrontational discourse toward other entities. It has become a recurring social phenomenon with other manifestations, such as femicides, which have reached 17 cases so far in 2025.
The report highlights that the current administration has failed to reverse “this worrying trend” of structural violence and has instead shifted its policy toward a neo-conservative approach to human rights, minority protection, and care for the migrant population.
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Among other elements included in the report, the following were highlighted:
- Costa Rica’s acceptance of migrants expelled from the United States.
- The ambiguous position maintained by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arnoldo André Tinoco, in a presentation before the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly.
- The issuance of a decree restricting funding and political support for the 2030 Agenda related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Carranza concluded, “These decisions weaken Costa Rica’s position in the global context.”
Backlog in Sectors
Additionally, the report notes that the uncertainty generated by the lack of political cohesion affects other sectors:
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- On the social level, although there has been a slight reduction in poverty rates, this is accompanied by an increase in inequality, a result of reduced funding for social programs and insufficient attention to key institutions such as the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS).
- The lag in hospital infrastructure, most evident in the construction of the new hospital in Cartago, the lack of a solution to waiting lists for surgeries and appointments, the flight and resignation of specialist doctors, and the conflict generated with the management of Basic Comprehensive Health Care Teams (Ebáis) by cooperatives, are all reflections of the decline in the social security system.
- Regarding environmental issues, the program questioned whether there is a clear policy in this area. Rather, it points to the doubts and criticisms generated by the public and private interests in cases such as the felling of trees in the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge.
- In the area of infrastructure, the analysis clarifies progress and limitations, noting that there is an ongoing effort to improve the condition of some roads, but setbacks occur along the way, such as the construction of the highway to Limón and the problems caused by the roundabouts that replaced the overpasses originally proposed for the project. Similar problems arise with the overpass in La Lima, Cartago, which has not been without criticism. While the proposed electric train, road planning, and the lack of attention to hazards on roads and bridges that pose a real risk to users, according to the UCR’s Lanamme, are among the tasks that are progressing very slowly.
- In terms of education, the report denounces the lack of a defined path, accompanied by an unprecedented reduction in educational investment, an organizational model within the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) that is inconsistent with current demands, and the need to improve teaching curricula to strengthen competitiveness and human talent that promote social mobility.
- In foreign trade, a conflictive scenario emerges following the imposition of tariffs on Costa Rican exports by the United States government and the need to establish a long-term strategy.
The analysis concludes with an unfavorable outlook for the second half of the year:
Unless deliberate efforts are made to change course, everything indicates that this will be the prevailing trend for the rest of the year, especially if the president continues to reinforce this climate through symbolic language laden with tension.
Structural violence, a concept introduced by Johan Galtung in 1969, refers to harm caused by social structures and institutions that prevent people from meeting their basic needs or rights. Unlike direct violence, where a specific actor causes harm, structural violence is embedded in the systems of society and can be less visible but often more pervasive. From Google
The article is translated and adapted from Delfino.cr. Read the original, in Spanish, here.
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