We arrive at the present with one certainty: Costa Rican democracy is one of the longest-standing and most stable in the world, but it is not immune to the passage of time or to new global threats. If the previous installments showed us how the foundations were built, this final chapter analyzes how to keep the building standing against the winds of change of the 21st century.
The Era of Disinformation and the Digital Ecosystem
One of the most pressing challenges identified by the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) is manipulation on digital platforms. In a context where information flows without filters, “post-truth” and fake news threaten to erode trust in electoral processes.
The challenge: To distinguish between vigorous debate and orchestrated hate campaigns. The TSE has proposed reforms to regulate propaganda on social media and ensure that algorithms do not hijack the popular will.
Inequality and Political Disenchantment
Despite progress, the Estado de la Nación Report warns of a “decline” in certain indicators of democratic quality. Persistent social and economic inequality acts as a corrosive force on civic cohesion.
The symptom: Abstentionism that is no longer sporadic but structural, especially in peripheral areas that feel the benefits of democracy do not reach their homes.
The paradox: Costa Rica continues to be considered a “full democracy” in international indexes, yet it coexists with a citizenry that feels increasingly less represented by traditional political parties.
Toward a Parity-Based and Pluricultural Democracy
The 21st century has also brought demands for deeper inclusion. The right to vote is no longer enough; the goal now is horizontal parity and the effective recognition of the nation’s multiethnic and pluricultural character.
Recent milestones: The reform of Article 1 of the Constitution and the struggle for real representation of women in mayoralties and the presidencies of the branches of government are steps toward a “democracy of results” and not only of procedures.
Conclusion: A Permanent Commitment
The history of democracy in Costa Rica, from the town councils of 1821 to the complex elections of 2026, teaches us that freedom is not a final destination but a daily exercise. As the framers of the 1949 Constitution pointed out, the country’s greatest treasure is not its weapons, but its ability to resolve conflicts through dialogue and the rule of law.
Keeping our polyarchy alive today requires, more than ever, an informed, critical, and above all participatory citizenry. The biography of our freedom continues to be written every day.
Sources consulted:
Desafíos para la democracia costarricense en el siglo XXI, Juan Pablo Sáenz Bonilla (UNED).
Desinformación y democracia: retos para los organismos electorales, IFED-TSE.
¿Cómo hemos cambiado? Progresos y desmejoras en la democracia, Estado de la Nación (2022).
Reformas Electorales 2023-2024, Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones.
Trayectoria de la Poliarquía Costarricense, Análisis histórico de larga duración.
