Approximately 18 years ago, the Nicaraguan people went through a terrible period of civil war. At that time Nicaragua was a very poor country in which an extremely small number of wealthy families controlled virtually all national resources. Ultimately the widespread poverty and limited distribution of wealth set the stage for the Nicaraguan people to revolt against their largely corrupt government and coalesce around a leftist movement know as the Sandinista. This group represented an alliance among several groups and was headed by Daniel Ortega. Unfortunately both the US and Cuba chose to involve themselves in this internal struggle and further complicated and protracted this painful period.
It was during this time that many Americans grew to know of Nicaragua, as our government (illegally) channeled funds to the "Contras" (Contra-Revolutionaries - against revolution) through arms sales to Iraq. In the end, after many years of fighting, the Sandinista won the war and seized control of the country. During this period a significant percentage of property owned by the wealthy Nicaraguan families and multinational companies was nationalized and redistributed. In addition to this dramatic step, in effort to more democratically distribute power, the Sandinista rewrote the constitution.
For five years following the Sandinista's ascension to power Nicaragua went through a relatively rapid period of change, funneling much greater resources to social needs such as education and health-care. As a result of these efforts such variables as literacy and infant death rate dramatically improved. In 1992, with the new constitution in place, the revolutionary government held its first popular elections. In this process the Nicaraguan people engaged fully and voted the Sandinista out of power. Following these elections the revolutionary government honored the outcome and supported a peaceful and orderly turn-over of power to a more moderate political party. From this point forward Nicaragua has enjoyed a young but thriving democracy that has effectively transferred power over a numbers of elections. Since the revolution the government has taken a strong stand on the protection of property ownership rights and a creditable effort to compensate families who had property nationalized during the initial take over has been completed.
The Sandinista had not held the presidency since 1992, however the majority of the congress and local officials (mayors) have remained Sandinista. In the fall of 2006 Daniel Ortega was voted back into the presidency with a platform of reconciliation, denouncement of his earlier support of communism, strong support of individual property rights and a commitment to social and economic growth for the Nicaraguan people.
It is interesting to contrast Nicaragua with El Salvador and Guatemala, both of which have had similar leftist uprisings. Where these countries differ is that the leftist won the revolution in Nicaragua and as a result the country stabilized and demilitarized; however in El Salvador and Guatemala where the revolutions have been unsuccessful a powerful undercurrent of violence and unrest continues today.
In Nicaragua today political expression is managed through peaceful demonstration and free and fair elections. This is not to suggest that Nicaragua is without its' political scandals or graft, but for Latin America it is virtually a model in that it is a country in which there is very little violence; few fire arms and a general sense of freedom and security.
In my conversations with Nicaraguans concerning the national mood I have been told repeatedly, "The Nicaraguan people remember the horror of civil war and have no taste for further violence."
