democracy. 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 a

strong 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 dealings

with 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 Mexico

in 1942. (Cockcroft, 232) Figueres returned in 1944, and an alle

the PLN (National Liberation Party), and outlawing the Communist party. He began to take state control of the economy by nationalizing the banking and insurance systems. He abolished all labor unions, an unheard of step in many revolutionary Latin American countries, where the opposite has proven a main concern and action toward democracy.

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. Figueres was more than cooperative to anything that the U.S. asked of him. The disbanding of the military was one of Figueres' true strokes of genius, while it did leave Costa Rica unprotected, it also meant that the U.S. would then be obligated to protect it, under the banner of democracy. Figueres thus made the U.S. military his military and all it required was that he denounce

the revolution that overthrew a government with communist ties. He fully entrusted his unfaltering cooperation with the U.S. in all foreign policy matters, and violently spoke out against communism. Don Pepe's instituted policies bleed with democratic ideals.

Figueres manipulated the U.S. government to his own ends by giving in to democracy on several fronts, and allowing himself to become a main facet of American imperialism. 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.

women, a certain democratic move. He then instituted a ten percent tax on the very wealthy, which had no considerable backlash politically in Costa Rica due to the surprisingly large middle class. Figueres also established a presidential term limit and created an independent Electoral Tribunal to oversee future elections. In perhaps his most amazing and debated decree, Figueres disbanded the government army, thus protecting himself from the possibility of an out of hand

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1375
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)