Editing Costa Rica (section)

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Costa Rica}}

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Costa Rica}}
[[File:Provinces Costa Rica.png|thumb|Provinces 1 [[Alajuela Province|Alajuela]], 2 [[Cartago Province|Cartago]], 3 [[Guanacaste Province|Guanacaste]], 4 [[Heredia Province|Heredia]], 5 [[Limón Province|Limón]], 6 [[Puntarenas Province|Puntarenas]], 7 [[San José Province|San José]]|163x163px]]
Costa Rica is composed of seven provinces, which in turn are divided into 82 cantons ({{langx|es|link=no|cantón}}, plural {{lang|es|cantones}}), each of which is directed by a mayor. Mayors are chosen democratically every four years by each canton. There are no provincial legislatures. The cantons are further divided into 488 districts ({{lang|es|distritos}}).

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Costa Rica}}
[[File:Barack Obama with Costa Rican children.jpg|thumb|[[Barack Obama]] and [[Laura Chinchilla]] with Costa Rican children in [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]|150x150px]]
Costa Rica is an active member of the [[United Nations]] and the [[Organization of American States]]. The [[Inter-American Court of Human Rights]] and the [[United Nations University of Peace]] are based in Costa Rica. It is also a member of many other international organizations related to [[human rights]] and democracy, such as the [[Community of Democracies]]. The main foreign policy objective of Costa Rica is to foster human rights and sustainable development as a way to secure stability and growth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rree.go.cr/?sec=ministerio&cat=politica%20exterior |title=Costa Rican Ministry of International Relations Declaration of Objectives |publisher=Costa Rican Ministry of International relations |access-date=23 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307023820/https://www.rree.go.cr/?sec=ministerio&cat=politica%20exterior |archive-date=7 March 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Localisation de l'ile de Clipperton.png|thumb|The extent of Costa Rica's western [[EEZ]] in the Pacific]] <!--This image is of doubtful relevance; it is not well described by its caption; it should be replaced or removed. Jan 11 2024-->

Costa Rica is a member of the [[International Criminal Court]], without a [[Bilateral Immunity Agreement]] of protection for the [[United States military]] (as covered under [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court|Article 98]]). Costa Rica is an observer of the [[Organisation internationale de la Francophonie]].

On 10 September 1961, some months after [[Fidel Castro]] declared [[Cuba]] a socialist state, Costa Rican President [[Mario Echandi]] ended diplomatic relations with Cuba through ''Executive Decree Number 2''. This freeze lasted 47 years until President [[Óscar Arias|Óscar Arias Sánchez]] re-established normal relations on 18 March 2009, saying, "If we have been able to turn the page with regimes as profoundly different to our reality as occurred with the USSR or, more recently, with the Republic of China, how would we not do it with a country that is geographically and culturally much nearer to Costa Rica?" Arias announced that both countries would exchange ambassadors.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/03/18/costa.rica.cuba.ties/|title= Costa Rica re-establishes ties with Cuba|work=CNN World|date= 18 March 2009|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090322173735/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/03/18/costa.rica.cuba.ties/ |archive-date= 22 March 2009}}</ref>

Costa Rica has a long-term disagreement with [[Nicaragua]] over the [[Costa Rica – Nicaragua San Juan River border dispute|San Juan River]], which defines the border between the two countries, and Costa Rica's [[Freedom of navigation|rights of navigation]] on the river.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-08/ElPais/UltimaHora/UH-HAYA1.aspx|title=IJC Court Ruling|publisher=nacion.com|access-date=8 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229193653/http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-08/ElPais/UltimaHora/UH-HAYA1.aspx|archive-date=29 December 2011}}</ref> On 14 July 2009, the [[International Court of Justice]] in the Hague upheld Costa Rica's navigation rights for commercial purposes to [[artisanal fishing|subsistence fishing]] on their side of the river. An 1858 treaty extended navigation rights to Costa Rica, but Nicaragua denied passenger travel and fishing were part of the deal; the court ruled Costa Ricans on the river were not required to have Nicaraguan tourist cards or visas as Nicaragua argued, but, in a nod to the Nicaraguans, ruled that Costa Rican boats and passengers must stop at the first and last Nicaraguan port along their route. They must also have an identity document or passport. Nicaragua can also impose timetables on Costa Rican traffic. Nicaragua may require Costa Rican boats to display the [[flag of Nicaragua]] but may not charge them for departure clearance from its ports. These were all specific items of contention brought to the court in the 2005 filing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/legal-services-litigation/12579933-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511230540/http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/legal-services-litigation/12579933-1.html |archive-date=11 May 2011 |title=World Court Settles San Juan River Dispute; Nicaragua and Costa Rica Both Claim Victory |publisher=Allbusiness.com|date=16 July 2009 |access-date=21 December 2010}}</ref>

In 2010, there was also a [[Costa Rica – Nicaragua San Juan River border dispute#2010 Isla Calero dispute|dispute around Isla Calero]], and the effects of Nicaraguan [[dredging]] of the river in that area.<ref>{{cite web |title=International Court of Justice recent provisional Costa Rica-Nicaragua decision |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/150/16324.pdf?PHPSESSID=dfc78e071a095818c7de6e8f8f29aa1b |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20160405043857/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/150/16324.pdf |archive-date=5 April 2016 |access-date=2 November 2011}}</ref>

On 1 June 2007, Costa Rica broke diplomatic ties with [[Taiwan]], switching recognition to the People's Republic of China. Costa Rica was the first of the Central American nations to do so. President [[Óscar Arias Sánchez]] admitted the action was a response to economic exigency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/caribbean/4505299-1.html |title=Costa Rica Boots Taiwan, Welcomes China In Diplomatic Switch |access-date=20 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511230533/http://www.allbusiness.com/caribbean/4505299-1.html |archive-date=11 May 2011}}. allbusiness.com (14 June 2007). Retrieved: 20 May 2010</ref> In response, the PRC built a new, $100 million, state-of-the-art [[Association football|football]] [[Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (2011)|stadium in Parque la Sabana]], in the province of San José. Approximately 600 Chinese engineers and laborers took part in this project, and it was inaugurated in March 2011, with a match between the national teams of [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] and [[China national football team|China]].

Costa Rica finished a term on the [[United Nations Security Council]], having been elected for a nonrenewable, two-year term in the [[United Nations Security Council election, 2007|2007 election]]. Its term expired on 31 December 2009; this was Costa Rica's third time on the Security Council. Elayne Whyte Gómez is the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN Office at Geneva (2017) and President of the United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57131|title=UN News – UN Member States set to adopt 'historic' treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons|first=United Nations News Service|last=Section|date=6 July 2017|website=UN News Service Section|access-date=6 August 2017|archive-date=9 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809230448/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57131|url-status=live}}</ref>

Costa Rica is the 58th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 [[Global Peace Index]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Global Peace Index |url=https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf}}</ref>

=== Pacifism ===
On 1 December 1948, Costa Rica abolished its military force.<ref name="peace">{{cite news |title=Why getting rid of Costa Rica's army 70 years ago has been such a success |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/01/05/costa-rica-celebrate-70-years-no-army/977107001/ |work=USA Today |date=5 January 2018 |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829140152/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/01/05/costa-rica-celebrate-70-years-no-army/977107001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1949, the abolition of the military was introduced in [[Article 12 of the Constitution of Costa Rica|Article 12]] of the [[Costa Rican Constitution]]. The budget previously dedicated to the military is now dedicated to providing health care services and education.<ref name="nytimes-military">{{cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/opinion/07kristof.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/opinion/07kristof.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited|title= The Happiest People|work= The New York Times|date= 6 January 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Costa Rica's peace dividend: How abolishing the military paid off |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-xpm-2013-dec-15-la-oe-barash-costa-rica-demilitarization-20131208-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=15 December 2013 |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813070406/https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-xpm-2013-dec-15-la-oe-barash-costa-rica-demilitarization-20131208-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', "Costa Rica is known for its stable democracy, progressive social policies, such as free, compulsory public education, high social well-being, and emphasis on environmental protection."<ref name="pacifism">{{cite news |title=Costa Rican president backs holiday for army abolition |url=https://www.dw.com/en/costa-rican-president-backs-holiday-for-army-abolition/a-46480144 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=28 November 2018 |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813070409/https://www.dw.com/en/costa-rican-president-backs-holiday-for-army-abolition/a-46480144 |url-status=live }}</ref> For law enforcement, Costa Rica has the [[Public Force of Costa Rica]] police agency.

In 2017, Costa Rica signed the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament&nbsp;– No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Costa Rica, the 11th country to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |url=https://www.pressenza.com/2018/07/costa-rica-the-11th-country-to-ratify-the-treaty-on-the-prohibition-of-nuclear-weapons/ |agency=Pressenza – International Press Agency |date=6 July 2018 |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813070407/https://www.pressenza.com/2018/07/costa-rica-the-11th-country-to-ratify-the-treaty-on-the-prohibition-of-nuclear-weapons/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Leadership in World governance initiatives ===
Costa Rica has been one of the signatories of the agreement to convene a convention for drafting a [[world constitution]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Letters from Thane Read asking Helen Keller to sign the World Constitution for world peace. 1961 |url=https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B149-F04-022.1.8 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Helen Keller Archive |publisher=American Foundation for the Blind |archive-date=3 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703034807/https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B149-F04-022.1.8 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Letter from World Constitution Coordinating Committee to Helen, enclosing current materials |url=https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B154-F05-028.1.4 |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=Helen Keller Archive |publisher=American Foundation for the Blind |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719170534/https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B154-F05-028.1.4 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, in 1968, for the first time in human history, a [[World Constituent Assembly]] convened to draft and adopt the [[Constitution for the Federation of Earth]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preparing earth constitution {{!}} Global Strategies & Solutions {{!}} The Encyclopedia of World Problems |url=http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/strategy/193465 |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=The Encyclopedia of World Problems {{!}} Union of International Associations (UIA) |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719215501/http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/strategy/193465 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich]], then president of Costa Rica signed the agreement to convene a World Constituent Assembly<ref>{{Cite book |last=Amerasinghe |first=Terence P. |title=Emerging World Law, Volume 1 |publisher=Institute for Economic Democracy |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-933567-16-7 |page=50 |language=en}}</ref> along with former presidents [[José Figueres Ferrer]] and [[Otilio Ulate Blanco]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

=== Environmentalism ===
In 2021, Costa Rica, alongside Denmark, launched the "Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance" (BOGA) to stop the use of fossil fuels.<ref>{{cite news |title=Climate change: Whisper it cautiously... there's been progress in run-up to COP26 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58678937 |access-date=10 October 2021 |agency=BBC |date=25 September 2021 |archive-date=21 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921171344/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58678937 |url-status=live }}</ref> The BOGA campaign was presented in the [[COP26]] Climate Summit, where Sweden joined as a core member, while New Zealand and Portugal joined as associate members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unric.org/en/denmark-sweden-and-greenland-in-a-new-global-alliance-to-seek-an-end-to-oil-and-gas-production/|date=11 November 2021|title=Denmark, Sweden and Greenland in a new global alliance to seek an end to oil and gas production|author=[[United Nations]]|access-date=9 December 2021|website=Unric.org|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209142728/https://unric.org/en/denmark-sweden-and-greenland-in-a-new-global-alliance-to-seek-an-end-to-oil-and-gas-production/|url-status=live}}</ref>