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The purpose of this study is to assess how a small nation like Costa Rica, which is committed to peace and lacks a military, is able to safeguard national security and territorial sovereignty while responding to a series of hostile external disputes with neighboring Nicaragua. It examines how Costa Rica's actions and decisions in response to these disputes supports or impugns established tenets of international relations theory. Three case studies examine distinct periods of Costa Rican relations with Nicaragua, extending from the abolition of Costa Rica's military in 1948 to the present-day. The findings are evaluated with respect to realist, liberal and constructivist theory. Costa Rica's behavior best supports tenets of constructivist theory as it is undoubtedly influenced by socially constructed norms. These norms include a strong commitment to diplomatic dispute resolution, a general public perception that Nicaragua cannot be trusted and that some domestic capacity to employ force is an acceptable deviation from the nation's commitment to diplomacy.This compilation includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.I. Introduction * A. Major Research Question * B. Significance of the Research Question * C. Literature Review * D. Potential Explanations and Hypotheses * E. Research Design * F. Early History of Costa Rica * II. Case Study #1 (1948-1979): Thirty Years Of War Between Costa Rica And Nicaragua * A. Summary of Events * B. Realism * C. Liberalism * D. Constructivism * III. Case Study #2 (1979-1989): The Contra War * A. Summary of Events * B. Realism * C. Liberalism * D. Constructivism * IV. Case Study #3 (1990-Present Day): Border Disputes And The ICJ * A. Summary of Events * B. Realism * C. Liberalism * D. Constructivism * V. ConclusionThe principal questions addressed in this study are as follows: 1. Why does Costa Rica, as a nation dedicated to peace, continue to train, equip, and employ specialized uni