Strength through peace: How demilitarization led to peace and happiness in Costa Rica and what the rest of the world can learn from a tiny tropical nation

Abstract

Judith Eve Lipton and Daniel P Barash. Strength Through Peace: How Demilitarization Led to Peace and Happiness in Costa Rica and What the Rest of the World Can Learn from a Tiny Tropical Nation. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2019. ISBN: 978-0-1999-2497-4 (Hbk). Pp. 261.

This is a timely book! It shows how a small country like Costa Rica, a hugely successful nation-state, has become one of the most prosperous and progressive countries on earth. It also has maintained and kept itself in a peaceful state since 1948, the year Costa Rica decided to disband its army and create a zero-military budget.

The decision gives it the distinction of being the largest independent country to become completely demilitarized. This has led, as the authors claim, to a nation that is thriving despite its small size and circumstances. Considering New Zealand, Iceland, and Bhutan as other success stories, this shows that demilitarized states are unique and thus to be admired as possible role models for other states.