Promotional Information

Concise yet thorough, this engaging book provides an overview of the unique history of an increasingly important Central American nation.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword Preface Timeline of Historical Events 1 Introduction: Pura Vida 2 Colonial Costa Rica 3 Independence and the Early Nineteenth Century 4 Emergence of National Identity 5 The Consolidation of the Liberal State 6 The Banana Republic 7 The Social Welfare State and Civil War 8 The Cold War and the Liberación Era 9 State-Led Development and Debt 10 Contemporary Costa Rica Notable People in the History of Costa Rica Glossary Bibliographic Essay Index

About the Author

Monica A. Rankin, PhD, a pioneer in Mexican diplomacy, gender, fashion, and identity in the 1940s, is assistant professor of history at the University of Texas, Dallas, TX. Rankin specializes in the history of Mexico, Latin America, and U.S.-Latin American relations.