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A History of Nonviolence: Insecurity and the Normative Power of the Imagined in Costa Rica

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  • Huhn, Sebastian

Abstract

Crime, violence, and insecurity are among the most important social topics in contemporary Costa Rica. These three issues play a central role in the media, politics, and everyday life, and the impression has emerged that security has changed for the worse and that society is now threatened permanently. However, crime statistics do not support this perception. The paper thus asks why violence and crime generate such huge fear in society. The thesis is that the Costa Rican national identity - with Costa Rica constructed as a nonviolent nation - impedes a realistic discussion about the phenomena and their causes, and simultaneously provides a platform for sensationalism and the social construction of fear.

Suggested Citation

  • Huhn, Sebastian, 2008. "A History of Nonviolence: Insecurity and the Normative Power of the Imagined in Costa Rica," GIGA Working Papers 84, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:gigawp:84
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bulmer-Thomas,Victor, 1987. "The Political Economy of Central America since 1920," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521348393.
    2. Hoffmann, Bert, 2007. "Why Reform Fails: The 'Politics of Policies' in Costa Rican Telecommunications Liberalization," GIGA Working Papers 47, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    3. Peetz, Peter, 2008. "Discourses on Violence in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua: Laws and the Construction of Drug- and Gender-Related Violence," GIGA Working Papers 72, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    4. Huhn, Sebastian, 2008. "Discourses on Violence in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua: Social Perceptions in Everyday Life," GIGA Working Papers 81, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    5. Ziggy MacDonald, 2002. "Official Crime Statistics: Their Use and Interpretation," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 112(477), pages 85-106, February.
    6. Huhn, Sebastian & Oettler, Anika & Peetz, Peter, 2006. "Exploding Crime? Topic Management in Central American Newspapers," GIGA Working Papers 33, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
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    Cited by:

    1. Huhn, Sebastian, 2009. "The Culture of Fear and Control in Costa Rica (I): Crime Statistics and Law Enforcement," GIGA Working Papers 104, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    2. Huhn, Sebastian, 2009. "The Culture of Fear and Control in Costa Rica (II): The Talk of Crime and Social Changes," GIGA Working Papers 108, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.

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