said to have countries but there is one country that has functioned since 1949 without an army. This is the Central American Republic of Costa Rica, a country about two-thirds the size of Scotland. It is bordered in the north and south by the battle-scarred nations of Nicaragua and Panama. Its fabled wildlife, beaches and volcanoes attract more than a million tourists annually, about half of whom are Americans.

Costa Rica’s strategic decision to abolish its army insulated the country from being tarred by the violence that was the hallmark of Latin American politics for decades. Abolishing the army has both inhibited the formation of a military oligarchy and made elections the only way to change government. It has also established Costa Rica’s neutrality in the region; no aggressordollars in revenue annually and the electronics sector is rapidly moving into first place, boosted by the opening of several high-tech manufacturing facilities by Intel Corporation. The economy grew this year by 5.5 percent, compared with growth rates in the 1 to 2 percent range for much of Latin America. Exports grew at 15 percent, and high-tech exports by 25 percent. The poverty rate dropped by 2.1 percent and now stands at 18.5 percent.

Costa Rica gained its independence from Spain in 1821 and democracy has been a hallmark of Costa Rican politics since the first Congressional elections were held in 1889. There was a lapse in 1917, when the Minister of War, Frederico Tinoco, seized power in a military coup. Nationwide protests ended his dictatorship two years later.