Nicaraguan Revolution

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(This article refers to the Nicaraguan Revolution in its core. It pretends to focus on the complex sociological process that marked the history of Nicaragua since the Revolution began, until it ended, in 1990. Although the FSLN as an organization was the key figure to the Nicaraguan Revolution, the latest includes a much wider range of persons, organizations and events that escape the FSLN alone. Adding to that, the political life of the FSLN has, since 1990, diverted into different paths from what was heralded in the Revolution years. Historical distance was needed in order to understand that the FSLN and the Nicaraguan Revolution are, now, two different social and historical beens.)

The Nicaraguan Revolution (Revolución Nicaragüense or Revolución Popular Sandinista, also RPS) embodies a major historical part, not only to Nicaragua, Central America and the American continent, it also marked one of the high notes to the development of the Cold War. It represents the process of foundation, development and summit of a Nicaraguan revolutionary process that overthrew, by the power of arms, the dictatorship of the Somozas, that had ruled the country since the 1930s. The leading organization to participate and, almost single-handedly, orchestrate the Nicaraguan Revolution was the Sandinista National Liberation Front (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional or FSLN, a left-wing organization with Marxist-type ideologies.

In this fall from power of the Somozas a number of conditions, at national level as well as international, intervened to debilitate the strength of the dictatorship, military as political and, at the same time, reinforce the opposition, with the FSLN being the biggest and most important group, but not the only one of them.

Totally well-deserved credit to FSLN, as the organization that crafted the Revolution, was to follow in the history of Nicaragua. All presentation of Revolution must include FSLN as the main actor that was due to perform. Yet never could the Revolution be understood as a "branch" of FSLN historical life, for this would impoverish the true and all-around meaning of the history of Nicaragua. The Nicaraguan Revolution was, in its core, a bigger social been than the conditions (political, social, cultural, religious, military, international) that set it and made it possible.

Contents 1 Chronology 2 Multiple views of definition 3 Social backgrounds 3.1 US interventions 3.2 The rise of the Somozas 3.3 Previous insurrectional struggles in Nicaragua 3.4 Cuban Revolution 3.5 Socioeconomic conditions of Nicaragua in the first half of the 20th century 4 Process of Nicaraguan Revolution 4.1 Foundation of FSLN 4.2 The Somozas and the USA 4.3 Organizations other than FSLN that confronted Somozas dictatorship 4.3.1 Left wing 4.3.2 Right wing 4.4 International stage 4.5 Socioeconomic conditions of Nicaragua through the 1970s 4.6 Cuba throughout the Process of Revolution 4.7 Final Insurrection 4.8 FSLN rises to power 5 Nicaraguan Revolution 5.1 Junta de Reconstrucción Nacional 5.2 Political, social and cultural actors of Nicaragua in the years of the Revolution 5.3 US aggressions against Nicaragua 5.4 Cold War and Central American Civil Wars 5.5 Contrarrevolución and Civil War 5.6 1984 General Elections 5.7 Socioeconomic conditions of Nicaragua through the 1980s 5.7.1 Economy and agrarian reform 5.7.2 Literacy campaign and other cultural developments 5.7.3 Military 5.8 Esquipulas 5.9 1990 General Elections 5.9.1 UNO 5.9.2 FSLN 6 Two Nicaraguas, a comparative picture 6.1 Liberal post-Revolution era in Nicaragua 6.2 Socioeconomic conditions of Nicaragua in 2006 7 Notes and References

[edit] Chronology

The Nicaraguan Revolution, chronologically, could be measured within approximately 30 years, ranging from 1961, year of foundation of the FSLN and 1990, year in which the FSLN was ousted from power by (Unión Nacional Opositora) (UNO) and its presidential candidate, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in democratic General Elections on February 25, 1990. The government of Barrios de Charromo took office in April 25, 1990.

The social chronology of the Revolution covers and was influenced by a wide range of historical events, but undoubtfully a central piece of its background, evolution and ultimate result, are condensed in three major historical events:

1. The previous Nicaraguan guerrilla warfare sustained by Nicaraguan Augusto César Sandino that stood, originally, and along with only 29 men, against the US Marines occupation of Nicaragua in 1926, developing an armed rebellion to fight Marines and what Sandino saw as an "usurpation of independence and sovereignty of Nicaragua" ^{(citation from Selser, Gregorio's historical work needed)}, which later prompted the assassination of Sandino in 1934 to the hands of Anastasio Somoza García, following betrayal by the lattest. This epic figure of Sandino proved to be a critic and emblematic key, also deeply iconic, to the roots and birth of the Nicaraguan Revolution.
2. The Cuban Revolution itself, that sparked widespread left wing revolutionary movements all over Latin America, and showed a plausible and possible cause of major political confrontation for a continent soon to be infested with right-wing dictatorships.
3. The Fall of the Berlin Wall and the end to the Cold War, which saw, throughout the world, the end of world polarization. This also followed the end of the Nicaraguan Revolution, marked by the electoral defeat of the FSLN, in 1990. This ended the process of Revolution, with almost every major social achievements reverted with the liberal governments that would follow, although leaving a heavy footprint to the Nicaraguan society. From here on, the FSLN, the organization that orchestrated the Revolution, was destined to evolve into a leftist party that won the Nicaraguan general election in 2006.

[edit] Multiple views of definition

The Nicaraguan Revolution can be understood, as it is by some historians,^{[citation needed]} as starting on July 19, 1979, with years prior to this date representing one phase: a process of accumulative force (military, social, ideological), and years after this date involving a second phase: the attempt of crystallization of these forces that took power. Thus, according to this view, "The Revolution started on July 19" ^{(citation needed)}, not in 1961, when FSLN was founded, or even around different dates in the 1970s, when FSLN was seen as a belligerent force ^{(precise source of time needed)} or when final insurrection (1978) came to evolve into a wide-open civil war.

The Nicaraguan Revolution can also be presented as a narrow and simplified historical event, that could be resumed as follows: in 1978, a multiplicity of social organizations and social groups, guided by FSLN, sparked by the ruthless dictatorship of the Somozas, initiated a general insurrection that culminated in a guerrilla-type warfare that, on July 19, 1979, overthrew the dictatorship of the then-ruling Somoza: Anastasio Somoza Debayle, son of the original Somoza, Anastasio Somoza García. This view presents the Revolution as "culminating" in 1979, with its only true and limited goal been the occupation of power. And following years, 1979 to 1990, to be "the Revolution years". This view of the Revolution can be criticized, as it is from (citation needed from direct source), as too socially and politically naive, thus isolating the real place of Nicaraguan Revolution in the flow of the Cold War and within revolutionary struggles all across Latin America.

[edit] Social backgrounds

[edit] US interventions

[edit] The rise of the Somozas

[edit] Previous insurrectional struggles in Nicaragua

[edit] Cuban Revolution

[edit] Socioeconomic conditions of Nicaragua in the first half of the 20th century

[edit] Process of Nicaraguan Revolution

[edit] Foundation of FSLN

The FSLN was founded by Carlos Fonseca, Tomas Borge and their counter-parts in 1962, in Havana, Cuba, as a militant, leftist revolutionary group whose final aim was to topple to Somoza dictatorship.

[edit] The Somozas and the USA

[edit] Organizations other than FSLN that confronted Somozas dictatorship

The Catholic Church was by many considered to be the Sandinista's principle ideological rival. Confronting that Catholic Church was a sensitive matter as most Nicaragua's identified themselves with the Church. One of FSLNs largest public foes was Arch Bishop Obando y Bravo, an admired figure who stood up against Somoza's oppression, was also a staunch opposer of the Sandinista's socialist policies and their promulgation of the 'popular Church' which was loyal to their party. The Archbishops daily radio show, a live broadcast of his Church sermons known as "Radio Catolica" was censored and eventually cancelled by the Sandinista regime. Obando y Bravo, among with many other Catholic figures in Nicaragua, were eventually exiled. Pope Jean Paul II's visit to Nicaraguan in 1983 was also an important moment in Sandinista - Catholic relations. The Pope's visit intensified the Church's opposition to the Sandinista regime. The main purpose of his speech which occurred in the 'Plaza of July 19th' was aimed at chastising the excesses of the Sandinista's political project and radical ideology.

[edit] Left wing

[edit] Right wing

[edit] International stage

[edit] Socioeconomic conditions of Nicaragua through the 1970s

[edit] Cuba throughout the Process of Revolution

[edit] Final Insurrection

[edit] FSLN rises to power

[edit] Nicaraguan Revolution

[edit] Junta de Reconstrucción Nacional

[edit] Political, social and cultural actors of Nicaragua in the years of the Revolution

[edit] US aggressions against Nicaragua

[edit] Cold War and Central American Civil Wars

[edit] Contrarrevolución and Civil War

[edit] 1984 General Elections

[edit] Socioeconomic conditions of Nicaragua through the 1980s

As any revolutionary process that struck the basements of the society that harbors it, with the Nicaragua Revolution there were several major changes that reshaped the Nicaraguan society, turning it into a country complex as ever. The direct consequences of the Revolution can be structured into three main directions:

• Economics: The Revolution brought down the heavy burden Somocista regime had imposed upon Nicaraguan economy and that had seriously deform the country creating a big and modern head, Managua, where Somoza's power would emanate to all corners of the territory, and then an almost semifeudalist rural economy with few productive goods, such as cotton, sugar and other tropical agricultural products. All sectors of the economy of Nicaragua were determined, in great part if not all, by the Somozas or the officials and adepts surrounding the regime, whether it was directly owning agricultural brands and trusts, or actively setting them to local or foreign hands. It is famously stated that Somoza himself owned 1/5 of all profitable land in Nicaragua. While this is not correct, Somoza or his adepts did own or give away banks, ports, communications, services and massive amounts of land.^[1]

All sectors of the economy were restructured, actually heading into a mixed economy system. However, the biggest impact, economically, set by the Revolution was within the primary sector: the Agrarian Reform (see below).

• Cultural Revolution: the Nicaraguan Revolution brought many cultural improvements and developments. Undoubtfully, the most important was the planning and execution of the Nicaraguan Literacy Campaign(Cruzada Nacional de Alfabetización). The literacy campaign used secondary school students, university students as well as teachers as volunteer teachers. Within five months they reduced the overall illiteracy rate from 50.3% to 12.9%.^[2] As a result, in September 1980, UNESCO awarded Nicaragua with the “Nadezhda K. Krupskaya” award for their successful literacy campaign. This was followed by the literacy campaigns of 1982, 1986, 1987, 1995 and 2000, all of which were also awarded by UNESCO.^[3] The Revolution also founded a Ministry of Culture, one of only three in Latin America at the time, and established a new editorial brand, called Editorial Nueva Nicaragua and, based on it, started to print cheap editions of basic books rarely seen by Nicaraguans at all. It also founded an Instituto de Estudios del Sandinismo (Institute for Studies of Sandinismo) where it printed all of the work and papers of Augusto C. Sandino and those that cemented the ideologies of FSLN as well, such as Carlos Fonseca, Ricardo Morales Avilés and others. The key large scale programs of the Sandinistas received international recognition for their gains in literacy, health care, education, childcare, unions, and land reform.^{[4] [5]}

• Military: since the political project of the Revolution was an "anti-imperialist, classist, popular and revolutionary" project^[6] the growth of the military was also a direct consequence of the Revolution. As early as 1981 (1980 to some evidence) a anti-Sandinist movement, the Contrarrevolución (Counter-revolution) -or just Contras, was already taking form and place in the border with Honduras. An armed conflict would then arise in no time, adding to the ongoing civil wars across Central America. Later, Contras, heavily backed up by the CIA and, although secretly, by members of the US Government, openned a second "front" in the Atlantic and Costa Rican frontier of the country, thus making the 80's an even more stressful decade. With the civil war opening up cracks in the national revolutionary project, the military budget grew in numbers of money and men. The Servicio Militar Patriótico (Patriot Military Service), a compulsory draft, was established to help defend the Revolution. (see below).

[edit] Economy and agrarian reform

The Nicaraguan Revolution brought immense reestructures and reforms to all three sectors of the Economy. In the primary sector, the Revolution presented the Agrarian Reform, not as one that could be planned in advanced from the beginning of the Revolution but as a process that would develop pragmatically along the different conditions -economical, political and from organization, that would arise all during the Revolution period.^[7]

Economic reforms overall needed to rescue out of limbo the inefficient and helpless Nicaraguan economy. As a "third-world" country, Nicaragua had, and has, an agriculture-based economy, undeveloped and susceptible to flow of market price of its agricultural goods, such as coffee and cotton. The Revolution faced a rural economy well behind in technollogy and, at the same time, devastated by the guerrilla warfare and the soon to come civil war against Contras.

"Articule 1 of the Agrarian Reform Law says that property is guaranteed if it laboured efficiently and that there could be different forms of property:

• state property (with the confiscated land from somocists)
• cooperative property (part of confiscated land, but without individual certificates of ownership, to be laboured efficiently)
• communal property (in response to reinvindication from people and communities from Miskito regions in the Atlantic
• individual property (as long as this is efficiently exploited and integrated to national plans of development)^[8]

The principles that presided Agrarian Reform were the same ones for the Revolution: pluralism, national unity and economic democracy."^[9]

The Nicaraguan Agrarian Reform developed into four phases^{this aspect alone of the Nicaraguan Revolution should be developed into a new article}:

1. First phase (1979): confiscation of property owned by Somocists and its adepts
2. Second phase (1981): Agrarian Reform Law of July 19, 1981
3. Third phase (1984–1985): massive cession of land individually, responding to demands from peasantry
4. Fourth phase (1986): Agrarian Reform Law of 1986, or "reform to the 1981 Law"

[edit] Literacy campaign and other cultural developments

[edit] Military

[edit] Esquipulas

[edit] 1990 General Elections

The 1990 Nicaraguan General Elections marked the political end to the Nicaraguan Revolution. A new UNO (Unión Nacional Opositora, or National Opposition Union), a coalition of political parties, formed to match the strength of FSLN and to access the presidential chair. The candidate of UNO was Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, a member of the original Junta de Reconstrucción Nacional (National Reconstruction Junta) and widow of Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, assassined by Somoza on January 10, 1978. For FSLN, the same formula tha won the 1984 General Elections was presenting its candidacy for a new term: Daniel Ortega for President of Nicaragua, and Sergio Ramírez for Vicepresident.

Below there is a contracted statistics of the result of the election. To more precise and detailed information, you can follow the source.^[10]

Nicaraguan 1990 General Elections	%
UNO	54.74%
FSLN	40.82%
MUR	1.18%
Other parties	3.26%

[edit] UNO

Nicaraguan historian and leading social investigator Roberto J. Cajina describes UNO as follows:

"Since the very moment of inception, under the political guidance and technical and financial support from the government of the US, the existence of UNO was marked by grave structural deformations, derived from its own nature. In its conformation concurred the most diverse currents of the Nicaraguan political and ideological range: from the liberal-conservative -traditionally anticommunist and pro-US, to marxist-leninists from moscovian lineage, openly declared supporters of class struggle and enemies of capitalism in its superior development stage".^[11]

The constitution of the UNO Coalition for the 1990 General Elections was as follows^[12]: ^{(exact transcription and translation of the names of these political parties needed)}

• 3 Liberal factions: PLI, PLC and PALI
• 3 Conservative: ANC, PNC and APC
• 3 Social-Christians: PPSC, PDCN and PAN
• 3 that named themselves as Socialdemocrats: PSD, MDN and PSN
• 1 Communist (orthodox): PC de Nicaragua (Communist Party of Nicaragua, splitted from the rank and files of the PSN [Socialist Party of Nicaragua] in the 1970s
• 1 Central American Unionist: PIAC

[edit] FSLN

[edit] Two Nicaraguas, a comparative picture

[edit] Liberal post-Revolution era in Nicaragua

[edit] Socioeconomic conditions of Nicaragua in 2006

[edit] Notes and References