Malone, Mary Fran T.

English

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Faculty Travel Reports Global Education Center
Spring 2011
Mary Fran T Malone, Assistant Professor of
Political Science, COLA, travels to Costa Rica
Mary Fran T. Malone
University of New Hampshire, mary.malone@unh.edu
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travel
This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Global Education Center at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Travel Reports by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more
information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Malone, Mary Fran T., "Mary Fran T Malone, Assistant Professor of Political Science, COLA, travels to Costa Rica" (2011). Faculty
Travel Reports. 58.
https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travel/58
Mary Fran T. Malone | Center for International Education and Global Engagement
http://unh.edu/cie//mary-fran-t-malone[6/14/2016 1:43:59 PM]
Home UNH Home Contact/Emergency
 
Center for International Education and Global Engagement
Professor Mary Malone with her daughter
Plaza de Justice
Mary Fran T. Malone
Assistant Professor of Political Science - College of Liberal Arts
Professor Malone traveled to Costa Rica this past summer to explore study abroad opportunities for UNH students. She was also able to conduct
research for a book she is writing on crime in Central America.
With the help of a CIE grant, in July of 2010 I traveled to San José, Costa Rica. My goal was to
investigate a series of study abroad opportunities for students, as well as conduct research on
Costa Ricans’ reactions to the Central American crime crisis. On both accounts, the trip was an
absolutely wonderful opportunity. During my two weeks in Costa Rica, I was able to identify
several great opportunities for students to study abroad, as well as advance my own research on
crime in Costa Rica.
I was particularly impressed with the study abroad programs offered through the International
Center for Development Studies (ICDS). While in the United States, I had heard many positive
things about ICDS and had been impressed with the work of its director, Jorge Nowalski. When I
traveled to see the programs in person, “impressed” was an understatement. ICDS explained to
me that their programs were designed to be “more than study abroad.” ICDS aims to provide
students with opportunities that are complementary to their studies, such as volunteer work and
independent research. They also provide housing with Costa Rican families, which deepens
students’ cultural experiences in Costa Rica, as well as ensures that they do have ample
opportunities to improve their Spanish.
ICDS’s program for students in medical professions best illustrates this holistic approach to
studying abroad. In this six week program, students from the United States come to Costa Rica to
learn Spanish, with an emphasis on medical terminology. In addition to classroom learning,
students learn onsite at a local medical clinic, where they can enrich their Spanish by observing
interactions between patients and hospital staff. In the classroom, students also learn about the
Costa Rican healthcare system, which is frequently touted as the best in the Western Hemisphere. Given the current healthcare reform bills in the
United States, this topic is most certainly timely. Finally, students may do volunteer work in medical settings to gain firsthand practical experience.
This program is truly excellent, and would be a true asset to any student studying in the various medical professions in the United States.
ICDS has a series of other programs that are designed to teach important practical skills to students in liberal arts, business, and legal professions.
In addition to these summer and spring study abroad sessions, I also worked with ICDS faculty to design a UNH program for the January term.
With ICDS’s expert assistance, I created a course titled “The Politics of Costa Rica,” currently being reviewed by CIE. This course would be taught
onsite in Costa Rica, and would mix traditional classroom learning with field trips that showcase many important aspects of Costa Rican
democracy: the human rights ombudsman office, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, a local medical clinic (a result of state and private sector
collaboration), and a state-run ecological preserve and research facility. I visited these various sites, and think they would be excellent
complements to students’ classroom learning. In addition to this four credit UNH course, students would also enroll in a three credit Spanish
language class at the nearby Universidad Latina. Again, classroom learning would be combined with field trips, such as a trip to a local artisan
community and theater. On weekends, students will have the opportunity to visit some other locations that have made Costa Rica famous, such as
the volcanoes that surround San José. During this January term, students would live with Costa Rican families. Thus, this course aims to teach
students about Costa Rica’s exceptional political development, as well as familiarize them with the Spanish language and Costa Rican culture.
In addition to these preparations for the January term, I was also able to conduct
my own research. Currently, I am working on a book project that examines the
problem of crime in Central America, and citizens’ reactions to it. In Central
America, crime has reached epidemic proportions. Guatemala, El Salvador, and
Honduras have some of the highest murder rates in the world – typically more than
eight times higher than in the United States. Costa Rica has been an important
exception to this regional trend, as its crime rate is similar to that of the United
States. Costa Ricans are not mollified by this similarity to the United States,
however, as many are angry that there is more crime today than in the past. This
frustration is evident in the amount of private security measures taken. Costa
Ricans have purchased alarms and gates in record numbers, and have hired private
security guards to watch their streets and homes. To an outsider like me, such
measures seem to be an over-reaction. Why are Costa Ricans so fearful, when they
are comparatively so safe? To answer this question, I met with a series of officials
who directed me to some excellent data and documents. This investigation
identified three important points to explain why Costa Ricans express such high
levels of fear of crime. First, the Costa Rican justice system has not been able to
About OISS Int'l Affairs Dual Major / Minor Study Abroad The World at UNH UNH Int'l Travel Policies & Resources Faculty Alumni
Mary Fran T. Malone | Center for International Education and Global Engagement
http://unh.edu/cie//mary-fran-t-malone[6/14/2016 1:43:59 PM]
Copyright © 2016, Center for International Education and Global Engagement  •  University of New Hampshire
Hood House  •  89 Main Street  •  Durham, NH 03824  •  Ph 603-862-2398  •  Fax 603-862-0169
Thompson Hall  •  105 Main Street  •  Durham, NH 03824  •  Ph 603-862-1288  •  Fax 603-862-0844
For questions about this website
          
For UNH main directory dial 603-862-1234
ADA Acknowledgement | Contact the UNH Webmaster
handle recent crime increases – they have the capacity to manage the crime rates typical of the past (when crime rates were at levels typical in
European countries), but not of the present (when crime is on par with that of the United States). Second, Costa Ricans are accustomed to higher
standards. When they judge the present status quo, they are not consoled that their country is the safest in the region. Rather, they judge the
status quo in light of the past, when crime was much lower. Finally, some of the very measures Costa Ricans take to protect themselves end up
increasing feelings of insecurity. For example, when Costa Ricans buy more locks, move to guarded communities, and string up barbed wire, this
ultimately creates the impression that there is much to fear. Survey data reveals that when people see the cumulative effect of all these private
security measures on a daily basis, they register more fear of crime. These findings are very interesting, and serve as an important framework for
my upcoming book on crime in Central America.
I would like to conclude by thanking CIE for its assistance. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to learn about Costa Rica first hand, and my goal
now is to pass along this enriched understanding to my students.


Mary Fran T Malone, Assistant Professor of Political Science, COLA, travels to Costa Rica

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryFaculty Travel Reports Global Education CenterSpring 2011Mary Fran T Malone, Assistant Professor ofPolitical Science, COLA, travels to Costa RicaMary Fran T. MaloneUniversity of New Hampshire, mary.malone@unh.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travelThis Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Global Education Center at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Faculty Travel Reports by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationMalone, Mary Fran T., "Mary Fran T Malone, Assistant Professor of Political Science, COLA, travels to Costa Rica" (2011). FacultyTravel Reports. 58.https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travel/58Mary Fran T. Malone | Center for International Education and Global Engagementhttp://unh.edu/cie//mary-fran-t-malone[6/14/2016 1:43:59 PM]Home UNH Home Contact/Emergency Center for International Education and Global EngagementProfessor Mary Malone with her daughterPlaza de JusticeMary Fran T. MaloneAssistant Professor of Political Science - College of Liberal ArtsProfessor Malone traveled to Costa Rica this past summer to explore study abroad opportunities for UNH students. She was also able to conductresearch for a book she is writing on crime in Central America.With the help of a CIE grant, in July of 2010 I traveled to San José, Costa Rica. My goal was toinvestigate a series of study abroad opportunities for students, as well as conduct research onCosta Ricans’ reactions to the Central American crime crisis. On both accounts, the trip was anabsolutely wonderful opportunity. During my two weeks in Costa Rica, I was able to identifyseveral great opportunities for students to study abroad, as well as advance my own research oncrime in Costa Rica.I was particularly impressed with the study abroad programs offered through the InternationalCenter for Development Studies (ICDS). While in the United States, I had heard many positivethings about ICDS and had been impressed with the work of its director, Jorge Nowalski. When Itraveled to see the programs in person, “impressed” was an understatement. ICDS explained tome that their programs were designed to be “more than study abroad.” ICDS aims to providestudents with opportunities that are complementary to their studies, such as volunteer work andindependent research. They also provide housing with Costa Rican families, which deepensstudents’ cultural experiences in Costa Rica, as well as ensures that they do have ampleopportunities to improve their Spanish.ICDS’s program for students in medical professions best illustrates this holistic approach tostudying abroad. In this six week program, students from the United States come to Costa Rica tolearn Spanish, with an emphasis on medical terminology. In addition to classroom learning,students learn onsite at a local medical clinic, where they can enrich their Spanish by observinginteractions between patients and hospital staff. In the classroom, students also learn about theCosta Rican healthcare system, which is frequently touted as the best in the Western Hemisphere. Given the current healthcare reform bills in theUnited States, this topic is most certainly timely. Finally, students may do volunteer work in medical settings to gain firsthand practical experience.This program is truly excellent, and would be a true asset to any student studying in the various medical professions in the United States.ICDS has a series of other programs that are designed to teach important practical skills to students in liberal arts, business, and legal professions.In addition to these summer and spring study abroad sessions, I also worked with ICDS faculty to design a UNH program for the January term.With ICDS’s expert assistance, I created a course titled “The Politics of Costa Rica,” currently being reviewed by CIE. This course would be taughtonsite in Costa Rica, and would mix traditional classroom learning with field trips that showcase many important aspects of Costa Ricandemocracy: the human rights ombudsman office, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, a local medical clinic (a result of state and private sectorcollaboration), and a state-run ecological preserve and research facility. I visited these various sites, and think they would be excellentcomplements to students’ classroom learning. In addition to this four credit UNH course, students would also enroll in a three credit Spanishlanguage class at the nearby Universidad Latina. Again, classroom learning would be combined with field trips, such as a trip to a local artisancommunity and theater. On weekends, students will have the opportunity to visit some other locations that have made Costa Rica famous, such asthe volcanoes that surround San José. During this January term, students would live with Costa Rican families. Thus, this course aims to teachstudents about Costa Rica’s exceptional political development, as well as familiarize them with the Spanish language and Costa Rican culture.In addition to these preparations for the January term, I was also able to conductmy own research. Currently, I am working on a book project that examines theproblem of crime in Central America, and citizens’ reactions to it. In CentralAmerica, crime has reached epidemic proportions. Guatemala, El Salvador, andHonduras have some of the highest murder rates in the world – typically more thaneight times higher than in the United States. Costa Rica has been an importantexception to this regional trend, as its crime rate is similar to that of the UnitedStates. Costa Ricans are not mollified by this similarity to the United States,however, as many are angry that there is more crime today than in the past. Thisfrustration is evident in the amount of private security measures taken. CostaRicans have purchased alarms and gates in record numbers, and have hired privatesecurity guards to watch their streets and homes. To an outsider like me, suchmeasures seem to be an over-reaction. Why are Costa Ricans so fearful, when theyare comparatively so safe? To answer this question, I met with a series of officialswho directed me to some excellent data and documents. This investigationidentified three important points to explain why Costa Ricans express such highlevels of fear of crime. First, the Costa Rican justice system has not been able toAbout OISS Int'l Affairs Dual Major / Minor Study Abroad The World at UNH UNH Int'l Travel Policies & Resources Faculty AlumniMary Fran T. Malone | Center for International Education and Global Engagementhttp://unh.edu/cie//mary-fran-t-malone[6/14/2016 1:43:59 PM]Copyright © 2016, Center for International Education and Global Engagement  •  University of New HampshireHood House  •  89 Main Street  •  Durham, NH 03824  •  Ph 603-862-2398  •  Fax 603-862-0169Thompson Hall  •  105 Main Street  •  Durham, NH 03824  •  Ph 603-862-1288  •  Fax 603-862-0844For questions about this website          For UNH main directory dial 603-862-1234ADA Acknowledgement | Contact the UNH Webmasterhandle recent crime increases – they have the capacity to manage the crime rates typical of the past (when crime rates were at levels typical inEuropean countries), but not of the present (when crime is on par with that of the United States). Second, Costa Ricans are accustomed to higherstandards. When they judge the present status quo, they are not consoled that their country is the safest in the region. Rather, they judge thestatus quo in light of the past, when crime was much lower. Finally, some of the very measures Costa Ricans take to protect themselves end upincreasing feelings of insecurity. For example, when Costa Ricans buy more locks, move to guarded communities, and string up barbed wire, thisultimately creates the impression that there is much to fear. Survey data reveals that when people see the cumulative effect of all these privatesecurity measures on a daily basis, they register more fear of crime. These findings are very interesting, and serve as an important framework formy upcoming book on crime in Central America.I would like to conclude by thanking CIE for its assistance. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to learn about Costa Rica first hand, and my goalnow is to pass along this enriched understanding to my students.

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Mary Fran T Malone, Assistant Professor of Political Science, COLA, travels to Costa Rica

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