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A Kantian Cosmopolitan Vision: The Federal Republic of Central America (1824-1841) and the Pursuit of European Political Utopias

Allan Gonzalez-Estrada
National University of Costa Rica

Abstract

The Federal Republic of Central America (1824–1841) represents a remarkable, though short-lived, political experiment in unifying Central America under a federalist and republican framework. Its philosophical foundations were deeply influenced by Enlightenment principles, drawing inspiration from European political thought and the revolutionary ideas shaping the Americas. Central to its ideological vision was the concept of cosmopolitanism, particularly as articulated by Immanuel Kant, who envisioned a global federation of states committed to perpetual peace and the universal rights of humanity. In Perpetual Peace (1795), in the second article, “The Law of Nations Shall be Founded on a Federation of Free States" Kant described the necessity of establishing such federation in order to ensure peace and justice, a principle that echoes in the ideals underpinning the Central American federation. The republic’s founding reflected Enlightenment aspirations, seeking to transcend colonial fragmentation and create a unified state based on liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty. Its leaders, including Francisco Morazán, who read in his youth the works of Locke or Montesquieu, championed the Enlightenment values of reason, education, and progress. Morazán, often referred to as the "Father of Central American Unity," envisioned a society free from colonial oppression, guided by rational governance. His dedication to these ideals aligns with Kant’s assertion that “The greatest problem for the human race, to the solution of which Nature drives man, is the achievement of a universal civic society which administers law among men”. Morazán’s efforts to establish a secular, centralized government and promote public education reflect the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and autonomy as pathways to societal improvement being those principles parallel to Kant’s belief in the importance of autonomy and self-governance. However, the Federal Republic faced significant obstacles, including regional rivalries, economic challenges, and external pressures, which ultimately led to its dissolution in 1841. From a Kantian perspective, the Federal Republic of Central America can be viewed as a regional attempt to actualize the cosmopolitan ideal of federated governance, and yet, Kant's vision, which emphasized the moral obligation of states to coexist peacefully while respecting individual freedoms, resonates with the republic's foundational aspirations. In its constitution, which sought to balance regional autonomy with a centralized framework, one can discern the influence of Enlightenment federalist models, akin to Kant's proposal for a “league of nations.” This paper argues that the Federal Republic of Central America embodied a unique synthesis of Kantian cosmopolitanism and Enlightenment ideals, offering a utopian vision of governance rooted in rationality and universal rights. While its failure illustrates the difficulty of implementing such ambitious projects, its legacy remains a testament to the enduring relevance of European political philosophy in shaping the aspirations of postcolonial states. The republic’s rise and fall serve as a profound reflection on the challenges of realizing cosmopolitan ideals in a world marked by diversity, conflict, and competing interests.