La Presidente

Sharing a last name with a cute, furry, big-eared creature, Laura Chinchilla avoids any other similiarities to this affable little rodent. Her home is located at the centre of Latin American machismo, with Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. As the current President of Costa Rica, Chinchilla is already facing more serious challenges than her predecessor, Nobel laureate Oscar Arias. How will she fare?

Although Chinchilla is not the first female leader of state in Latin America, she is the first in Costa Rica, a country with some very unique characteristics. Without an army since 1948, 16% below the poverty line, 25% of land mass protected as national parks or preserves, and an economy that relies heavily on tourism, a great deal of socio-political juggling is necessary. It is tempting to explore gender in a leadership role, but regardless one thing is certain: Laura Chinchilla will need to be a master of negotiation, as Nicaragua contests the definition of their border with Costa Rica.