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Ask any
Singaporean if they thought that every country on Earth has a
military force, and the overwhelming answer would be yes.
Everyone has been taught in school that a military is essential in
the protection of its borders, its citizens and the exertion of its
sovereignty since the dawn of time.
The surprising answer for the
above-mentioned question though is no – there are in fact
several countries that have no military as they entrust their
national security to other nations; for example the defence of
Micronesia is the responsibility of the United States.
In this short article, we look at
Costa Rica, a Central American
nation. But an introduction to the country is necessary to explain
why this country is the topic. Costa Rica, along with its
neighbours, declared independence from Spain on 15 September 1821.
Unlike its neighbours which endure political unrest and violence,
Costa Rica enjoyed a peaceful democracy until 1917-1919 under a
dictatorship and 1948 when it was caught in a bloody civil war that
lasted 44 days following election fraud.
The civil war ended with the
drafting of a new constitution and the abolishment of the military
by its President, José Figueres Ferrer.
Since its election in 1953, Costa
Rica held 13 elections which have been peaceful, transparent and
include the smooth handover of power.
It is
interesting to note that, despite its lack of a military, Costa
Rica is regarded as one of the most politically stable country in
Latin America, even during the Cold War and the violence suffered
by its neighbours. But while Costa Rica does not experience any
violence, it has its share of natural disasters such as
earthquakes, active volcanoes and hurricanes.
Does Singapore and Costa Rica have
anything in common? Some, in fact. Besides being tropical
countries, both have a diverse mix of ethnic groups. Costa Rica’s
population is majority white, with mixed-race (of European and
Amerindian descent) and blacks forming the next two largest. Both
nations assure the freedom of religious worship.
So, what does having no military
mean? It simply means more of a country’s resources can be
dedicated to other needs, like education and healthcare. Preschools
and high schools in Costa Rica are free whilst the country
practises universal healthcare.
Granted, it may be impossible for
Singapore to abolish its military as it is needed to protect the
Straits of Malacca until the shipping of cargoes is replaced by
newer and cheaper forms of transport.
However, we should review our
military, and perhaps professionalise it, so as to free up more
resources that can be used for more pressing needs of the
populace.
And to conclude, if you are ever
told – especially during your reservist trainings – that every
country has an armed force of its own, please correct the speaker
and perhaps invite him to Costa Rica – it would be good to know
that Costa Rica is a pioneer in eco-tourism and is ranked top in
the 2009 “Happy
Planet Index” to boot!
______________________________________
By Ajax
Copperwater
Recommended further reading
–
http://www.mssu.edu/international/mccaleb/CostaRica/army.htm
