The People, Not the Movement
Opposition to Cafta in Costa Rica, 2002-2007
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3138053 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Eduardo Frajman (0000-0002-1448-4179, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2012 |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 116-132 |
| Publication date | 2012-11-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Latin American Perspectives (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0094-582X • E-ISSN: 1552-678X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/0094582x12456679 |
| OpenAlex | W2095127576 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 3 |
The social mobilization against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in Costa Rica between 2002 and 2007 was the strongest of any nation associated with the treaty. The popular opposition was able to delay for years and nearly stop its ratification. It did so by amassing support from the public at large and, in preparation for a national referendum, adopting a strategy of complete decentralization and horizontal, voluntary work at the grassroots level. This strategy ultimately led to a loss of the battle against the agreement, but it avoided costly clashes over leadership and forced the Costa Rican government to become more open and transparent vis-à-vis the popular organizations and the public. La movilización social costarricense contra el CAFTA entre 2002 y 2007 fue la más contundente en cualquier país asociado al tratado. La oposición popular logró detener el proyecto por varios años y casi evita su ratificación. Su éxito se basó en el apoyo general del público y, en preparación para un referendo nacional, la adopción de una estrategia descentralizada y horizontal fundamentada en el voluntariado de grupos de base. Esta estrategia finalmente resultó en la pérdida de la batalla contra el tratado, pero evitó costosas desavenencias en torno al liderazgo y obligó al gobierno costarricense a abrirse y dar cuentas más transparentes a las organizaciones populares y el público en general
Art · Grassroots · Humanities · Political science · Politics · International Relations in Latin America · Law · Political and Social Dynamics in Chile and Latin America · Politics and Society in Latin America
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,38 |
| Citation span | 2018 - 2025 (8) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |