Nicaragua
This collection features materials describing the
broad and complex history of Nicaragua’s political struggle. The history of Nicaragua
includes years of colonialism, dictatorships, revolutions, and rebellions. The
majority of our materials focus on the Sandinista National Liberation Front
(FSLN) and their struggle for national liberation. The Sandinistas took their
name from Augusto Cesar Sandino who led resistance against the U.S occupation
of Nicaragua in the 1930s. The FSLN was formed by students, workers and
peasants in the early 1960s and pushed for political change during Anastasio
Somoza’s Debayle regime. As the 1960s progressed, the FSLN stepped up guerilla
warfare and succeeded in overthrowing the Debayle regime in 1979.
Beginning in 1981, opponents of the Sandinista government began to attack Nicaragua with the financial support and training of the U.S government. These forces were known as Contras. Contras included people who fought for Somoza and had a hatred for the Sandinistas, but also included indigenous peoples of Nicaragua that the U.S had convinced to oppose the Sandinistas’ vision for the future of Nicaragua. The U.S was involved in Nicaragua for two main reasons, including, private and corporate interest and the fear of the spread of communism and Marxism. This fear was reinforced when Cuba and Soviet Russia became Nicaragua’s main contributors and allies and after the Sandinista victory.
Documents
8 Documents Found
Psychological Operations in Guerrilla Warfare
Publisher: CRS Language ServicesDate: 10/15/1984Volume Number: October 15Format: MonographCollection: Nicaragua
This book is a manual for the training of guerrillas in psychological operations, and its application to the concrete case of the Christian and democratic crusade being waged in Nicaragua by the Freedom Commandos. Table of Contents: Introduction; Combatant-Propagandist Guerrilla; Armed Propaganda; Armed Propaganda Teams; Development and Control of Front Organizations; Control of Mass Concentrations and Meetings; Massive In-depth Support through Psychological Operations; Techniques of Oratory.
Poetry reading by Ernesto Cardenal
Poetry reading followed by a short question and answer dialogue from Father Ernesto Cardenal of Nicaragua. Poems, including "The Big Bang", "Wall and Water Street" and other pieces, are read in Spanish with English translation. Cardenal is known as one of the greatest living Latin American poets today. He wrote during the Samoza dictatorship and the Sandanista overthrow of Samoza in 1979. Through his poems, Cardenal brings together science and poetry, science and mysticism, mysticism and revolution, and poetry and politics. He speaks out against oppression and searches to preserve the unity of creation through spiritual insight. In a short question and answer period at the end of the reading, Cardenal discusses how Nicaraguan culture and revolution are entertwined and how poetry is an expression of the revolution. Cardenal also talks about his priesthood as a lifelong commitment and of poetry as a religious practice.
Interview with Luis Godoy
1989 interview with Nicaraguan revolutionary musician, Luis Godoy. Godoy was born in 1945 during the Samoza dictatorship. He speaks about the responsibility of an artist to send an important message and raise the consciousness of the people. Godoy then explained that from a very young age he realized that he could express the injustices of Nicaragua through songs, "I realized that my music could be used as a social tool". Throughout the interview, Godoy discusses those who have influenced his music, his involvement with past bands, and his visions for the future in both his musical career and for his country.
Interview with Robin Singer
Date: 6/8/1990Call Number: LA 170BFormat: Cass BProducers: Judy GerberProgram: A Defiant HeartCollection: Nicaragua
An interview with Robin Singer of the Atlanta Committee on Latin America and the Nicaragua Network discusses the 1990 agreement between the Nicaraguan Contras and the new Chamorro government of Nicaragua to demobilize the Contras by June 10 of that year.
Fifth Anniversary of Sandinista Revolution
A report from Managua, Nicaragua on the fifth anniversary of the 1979 FSLN (Sandinista National Liberation Front) revolution. Describes the Managuan celebrations and outlines fears of disruptions to the upcoming elections by the CIA and the US-backed Contras.
Margaret Randall - Feminism in Sandinista Government
Reads an excerpt from her book "Gathering Rage" about the oppression and struggle of feminist women in the revolutionary Nicaraguan government.
Deputy Prosecutor John Keker Speaks on Iran Contra Affair
Remarks and Q&A with John Keker after the prosecution of Oliver North, including Keker’s thoughts on US foreign policy, executive v. judicial power and especially how the Reagan administration illegally sold weapons to Iran to provide support to the Contras in Nicaragua. Future implications of this prosecution and investigation are also discussed.
Vamos Haciendo Historia, Pancasan - Nicaraguan music
Music from the second LP by the Nicaraguan group Pancansan who formed part of the Frente Estudiantil Revolucionario and were supporters of the FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional). Songs about revolution, anti-imperialism and resistance.
8 Documents Found
