Intellectuals Inventing Heroes: Public Memoirs About Rodrigo Carazo Odio in Costa Rica (1969-2009)

Abstract

Former president Rodrigo Carazo Odio (1978-1982) was one of the most controversial politicians in Costa Rican history during the Cold War. His presidency, which was marked by neoliberal ideas, an acute economic crisis, clashes with international financial organizations and the Sandinista Revolution, left some of the most unpopular marks on the second half of the twentieth century. Years after his mandate ended, Carazo himself, through memoirs, and a group of intellectuals, through academic studies on Carazo and by recognizing him with awards, sought to change the political memory of the country, which made negative references to his presidency. This effort finally shaped a praising and heroic vision of the former president, becoming popular among some Costa Rican intellectuals. This article dissects the intellectual invention of the former president, by examining Carazo's public memories and political speeches, as well as through research and biographies of him, in order to demonstrate the existence of a specific narrative with which this political leader was remembered, highlighting some attributes and forgetting those that could explain a critical juncture in Costa Ricas past.