Jose Figueres
Like Castro, Gueverra, and Sandino, Jose Figueres Ferrer holds a place as one of the most important revolutionary and political forces in Latin American history. This so-called "father of modern Costa Rica" led his country to revolution and eventualdemocracy. Known affectionately as "Don Pepe" by his admirers, Figueres was both an enemy of communist and a thorn in the side of the United States. While putting down a communist regime and allying himself consistently with the U.S., Figueres was also astrong socialist and nationalist and would prove to be an enigma to U.S. policy makers during his terms as president. Despite the praise and admiration that Figueres enjoyed, a much darker side to his administration as well as an unmistakable duality in his dealingswith the U.S. and democracy itself is seen in his political history. Following a time of democracy in Costa Rica, in the early 40's, then president Rafael Calderon allied himself with the Costa Rican communist party, Vanguardia Popular as well as the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza. Figueres would then give a radio speech disdaining Calderon and his actions which would lead to Figueres' exile to Mexicoin 1942. (Cockcroft, 232) Figueres returned in 1944, and an alleg
4)Langley, Kyle; Resistance and Accommodation: The United States and the Nationalism of Jose Figueres; Diplomatic History; V18n1; 1994; pp. The United States was not ignorant to what Figueres was doing, but the sentiment at the time was that while Figueres may not have instituted a wholly democratic government, the situation in Costa Rica was a no-lose situation. Control was then turned over to the rightful winner of the 1948 election, and Figueres would return for three terms as president, thefirst in 1953 and the final beginning in 1970. The time of the Costa Rican revolution was also the beginning of the Cold War, and a time during which the U. Supported by the governments of Guatemala, Cuba, and the U. (Langley, 9) The election of 1948 gave Figueres the window for revolution and a chance at power, and he took it. The way in which Don Pepe accomplished his own personal socialist political goals, while at the same time creating the persona as the "savior of Costa Rica", is uncanny and cunning. Once the parasitic relationship with the U.
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Acceptance Essays
