(PUSC), dominated national politics. However, in the 2002 elections, a new party, Partido Accion Civica (Citizens Action Party), garnered 25 percent of the vote just 14 months after it was founded. Its presidential candidate, Otton Solis, an economist and former Congressman, mobilized the electorate by challenging Costa Ricans to take responsibility for the direction of public policy, building on growing distrust of business as usual. While he lost, he was able to change the dynamics of domestic politics.

In return for pursuing such enlightened policies, this small nation of four and a half million is highly respected throughout Latin America. A former president, Oscar Arias, who governed from 1986 to 1990, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his work in attempting to spread peace from Costa Ricato all of Central America. Another former president, Miguel Angel Rodrigeuz, is favored to become the next Secretary General of the Organization of American States. The 14-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has just given him its official backing.

Costa Rica’s foreign policy is geared toward maintaining friendly ties toward the US. The vast majority of Costa Ricans supported the US invasion of Panama and the incumbent, President Abel Pachecho, supported the US invasion of Iraq, saying it was a just response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Pachecho, who took power in 2002, is a psychiatrist and former TV commentator who belongs to the PUSC. Recognizing that public opinion was strongly opposed to the Iraq War, he is now seeking a more nuanced foreign policy position on Iraq in the wake