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Sidestepping the State: Practices of Social Service Commodification among Nicaraguans in Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2017

Abstract

In Costa Rica, there is a widespread belief among the public and policymakers that the country's ‘exceptional’ universal healthcare system represents a magnet for Nicaraguan immigrants. However, examining immigrants’ actual access to social policy demonstrates the importance of legal and extra-legal mechanisms of exclusion that go hand in hand with official recognition of human rights. This paper critically assesses the relationship between migrants and the state, and public social policy in particular, in both sending and receiving country. We analyse the extent to which Nicaraguan migrant families on both sides of the Costa Rica–Nicaragua migration system incorporate public social protection in their welfare strategies. Drawing on two sets of qualitative data, we find that, on both sides of the border, migrants and their families display very similar commodified practices of welfare strategies, side-stepping the state and purchasing services in the private sector.

Spanish abstract

En Costa Rica existe la creencia generalizada entre el público y los diseñadores de políticas de que el sistema de salud universal ‘excepcional’ del país representa un imán para los migrantes nicaragüenses. Sin embargo, cuando se examina el acceso real a las políticas sociales se demuestra la importancia de los mecanismos de exclusión legal y extralegal que van de la mano con el reconocimiento oficial de los derechos humanos. Este artículo evalúa críticamente la relación entre migrantes y el estado, especialmente las políticas sociales públicas, tanto en el país de origen como en el de destino. Analizamos el grado en que las familias migrantes nicaragüenses en ambos lados del sistema migratorio Costa Rica–Nicaragua incorporan la protección social pública dentro de sus estrategias de bienestar. A partir de datos cualitativos de dos fuentes, encontramos que en ambos lados de la frontera los migrantes y sus familias muestran prácticas mercantiles de bienestar muy similares, basadas en circunvenir al estado y comprar servicios al sector privado.

Portuguese abstract

Na Costa Rica há uma crença generalizada entre público e decisores políticos de que o ‘excepcional’ sistema universal de saúde do país age como um ímã para imigrantes da Nicarágua. No entanto, ao examinar o acesso que os imigrantes realmente têm às políticas sociais, revela-se a importância de mecanismos de exclusão legais e extralegais paralelos ao reconhecimento oficial dos direitos humanos. Este artigo avalia de maneira crítica a relação entre migrantes e o Estado, em particular no que diz respeito à política pública social, em ambos os países recebendo e enviando migrantes. Analisamos o quanto famílias Nicaraguenses nos dois lados do sistema de migração Costa Rica–Nicarágua incorporam proteção pública social em suas estratégias de bem-estar. Baseando-nos em duas fontes de dados qualitativos, descobrimos que em ambos os lados da fronteira, migrantes e suas famílias demonstram práticas mercantilizadas muito similares de estratégias de bem-estar, evitando o estado e adquirindo serviços diretamente do setor privado.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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68 Voorend, ‘“Shifting In” State Sovereignty’.

69 Pedro, focus-group discussion, Alajuelita, 26 Jan. 2014.

70 Isabel, focus-group discussion, Pavas, 3 May 2014.

71 Sofía, focus-group discussion, Alajuelita, 26 Jan. 2014. In 2012 100 córdobas were worth approx. US$5; 58,000 colones were worth approx. US$114.

72 Fouratt, ‘Temporary Measures’.

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81 Luz, focus-group discussion, Alajuelita, 26 Jan. 2014.

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86 Sofía, focus-group discussion, Alajuelita, 26 Jan. 2014.

87 Pablo, focus-group discussion, Alajuelita, 26 Jan. 2014.

88 Martha, focus-group discussion, Alajuelita, 26 Jan. 2014.

89 Dora, focus-group discussion, Pavas, 20 Aug. 2014.

90 Xinia, focus-group discussion, Pavas, 20 Aug. 2014.

91 Carlos, focus-group discussion, San Sebastián, 7 Aug. 2014.

92 Stefani, focus-group discussion, San Sebastián, 7 Aug. 2014.

93 Isabel, focus-group discussion, Pavas, 3 May 2014.

94 Fabian, focus-group discussion, Carrillo, 18 Oct. 2014.

95 Isabel, focus-group discussion, Pavas, 3 May 2014.

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97 Ignacio, focus-group discussion, San Sebastián, 7 Aug. 2014.

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