The Nicaraguan Crisis

Abstract

In Nicaragua, 1982 is officially the "Year of Unity Against Aggression." Unofficially, it is the year of difficulties, contradictions, and—in many ways—the radicalization of the Sandinist revolution. There is more than ample reason for the official characterization. Beginning with the electoral rhetoric of Reagan and his advisers, there has been an unremitting campaign on the part of the current U.S. administration to make life difficult and costly, if not impossible, for the Nicaraguan revolution. Although the accusations have varied in tone and detail, more recently the claims that Nicaragua is "totalitarian"—or rapidly moving in that direction—and a "platform of terror and war in the region" have been used to justify a program of diplomatic and economic pressures and covert action against Nicaragua.

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