i Patrick W. Staib Anthropology This dissertation is approved, and it ...

open to supporting free trade (e.g., CAFTA) to get farmers motivated. The tradition of
distrust toward outsiders, institutions, and politicians I found to be common in Las
Segovias has dominated local attitudes for centuries. This attitude is counteracted,
however, by a development model like that of CLUSA’s where there is consistent
interpersonal communication, follow through on expected goals, and a collective
transparent approach to the sharing of successes and failures among the developers and
the farmers. This manner of engaging in economic development builds on the cultural
value of confianza and will endure withing the norms of San Juan del Río Coco farmers.
However, as co-ops operate within accepted local standards and work to obtain coffee
through various means, a truly local variety of alternative development is emerging.
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