Nicaragua

By: Thomas W. Walker and Christine J. Wade

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Synopsis: Walker (emeritus, political science, Ohio U. ) and Wade (political science and international studies, Washington College) present a political history of Nicaragua that stresses the out-sized role of US intervention and interference in the development of the Latin American nation's political economy. They describe the immediate interference in Nicaraguan affairs by the US after formal independence in the 19th century, including invasion and occupation between 1912 and 1933 and the US-sponsorship of the Somoza dictatorial dynasty through to the overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) in 1979. They then describe the "quite moderate" policies of the FSLN government and how the US programs of economic strangulation and covert warfare succeeded in convincing the Nicaraguan people in voting the FSLN out of office in 1990. Finally, they describe the policies of the conservative restoration, which led to miserable human development outcomes, and how this set the stage for the return of FSLN leader Daniel Ortega to the presidency in 2006. Following this chronological narrative, supplementary thematic chapters are provided on economics, culture and society, government and politics, and the international dimension. English language sources are discussed in an annotated bibliography, which has been updated for this fifth edition. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)