Sympathy and pity come naturally. But truly understanding a person or group of people may require you to put yourself in their shoes, and that requires empathy. A careful process of teaching and field trips can lead students toward this frame of mind, and a greater understanding of the people

In light of the excesses, corruption, "emptiness" and elitism of certain "exemplary" Latin American democracies in the 20th Century, Tara Ruttenberg reflects on the emergence of leftist, populist, participatory democracies in the region, celebrates their successes, and warns against the possibility of backsliding into authoritarianism.

In the weeks leading up to the 2010 Costa Rican election, outgoing President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oscar Arias Sanchez visited the students, staff, and faculty of the University for Peace, marking the official inauguration of UPEACE's 30th anniversary celebrations. In his address, President Arias emphasizes the social and political

Monica Paniagua comments on the current debate in Costa Rica about increasing the scope and weapons of the national police force as a response to the ongoing border dispute with Nicaragua. Paniagua argues that Costa Rica should stay true to its tradition of diplomacy and avoid the slippery slope to

An Interview with BriBri Leader Don Timoteo Jackson Author: Candice O’Grady Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 10/05/2007 Category: Interview From the road to the BriBri reserve you can see the humid blue hills of Panama. Stretching along the southern reaches of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, the 13,700

Un viaje histórico a través de los hitos y logros principales que han contribuido a la construcción de la Cultura de Paz en Costa Rica, cuyo legado es parte del presente de un país afamado internacionalmente como la utopía pacifista centroamericana.

Ronald Castro Fernández describes the circumstances around Costa Rica's decision to abolish the army in 1948, and its enshrinement into the constitution in 1949.

Hip Hop and the Art of Peace Education Academic Research, by earthsaylove.org Sufiya Yamin talks with G1 and RodStarz of Rebel Diaz about building community through art and music, opposing cultures of violence, and proposing cultures of justice, dignity, and peace.

The Sixaola River Basin crosses the border between Costa Rica and Panama, and is home to Yorkín and Bribrí communities, raising legal and social challenges for equitable and secure water management. This paper outlines some of these challenges and makes recommendations for reducing human vulnerability to hazards (particularly floods) and