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Trouble in Paradise?: The Erosion of System Support in Costa Rica, 1978–1999

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2022

Mitchell A Seligson
Mitchell A Seligson*
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
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Abstract

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Costa Rica has been the real success story of Latin American democracy. For the last half-century, this small country has held free, fair, and competitive elections, experienced regular rotation of rulers and parties, and rarely violated human or civil rights. Consistent voter turnout rates of 80 percent and a firmly entrenched two-party system appeared to be unalterable features of the electoral landscape since the late 1950s. While democracy still seems securely entrenched, the 1998 elections brought a major shift. Abstention increased by 50 percent, and votes for minor parties in the legislature doubled, reaching one-quarter of the electorate. This research note presents evidence that the shift is the result of long-term forces, using cross-sectional survey data collected from 1978 to 1999. Notable declines in the legitimacy of the political system explain the drop in turnout and the rise of minor parties. The study then attempts to explain why this decline may have occurred.

Type
Research Reports and Notes
Information
Latin American Research Review , Volume 37 , Issue 1 , 2002 , pp. 160 - 185
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 by the University of Texas Press

Footnotes

*

I would like to express my deep appreciation to Miguel Gómez B. of the Universidad de Costa Rica for his collaboration over more than twenty years in collecting the database used in this research note. His many comments on the draft form improved it. I would also like to thank Bill Barnes, John Booth, Fabrice Lehoucq, Lucio Renno, Amber Seligson, and Bruce Wilson for their helpful comments on the draft. Earlier versions were presented at the conference “La Democracia de Costa Rica ante el Nuevo Siglo (1986–2000): Tendencias, Problemas, Perspectivas,” held at the Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 29–31 May 2000, and to the American Political Science Association, Washington, D.C., 31 Aug.–2 Sept. 2000.

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