Overview

During the 1980s, Americans ranging from Congressmen to political pilgrims tended to view and deal with Nicaragua's Sandinistas and the Contra War according to their own personal and political agendas. The Civil War in Nicaragua Is unique among the dozens of books on these events, because it gives an inside view of what was going on, how and why policies were made by Nicaragua's new clique of nine, and what Impact those policies had on Nicaragua, the United States, and beyond. With their seizure of power in 1979, the Sandinistas had an unprecedented opportunity to improve the lot of the Nicaraguan people. How they ultimately betrayed their countrymen and left the region worse off than they found It Is the hidden story related here. Miranda and Ratliff locate the source of failure and betrayal in three critical factors: absolute power and oppression of the nine-man National Directorate; the unnecessary, ideologically driven conflict with the United States; and statist economics pursued to reward support and suppress dissent. The authors divide their analysis into six parts. The first discusses the Sandinistas' institutional structures and controlling personalities, with an emphasis on the Ortega brothers. The second focuses on the Sandinistas' world view and use of deception to achieve their objectives, and on their allies, in particular Cuba and the Soviet Union. The third scrutinizes their attitudes to and relations with the United States. The next two discuss the institutional framework of domestic control and the Sandinista doctrines of war and peace that were played out In the Contra War. Miranda and Ratliff conclude with an analysis of factors leading to the collapse of the Saridinista regime. Its ouster in the free elections of 1990, and the early years of the Chamorro government. As this volume makes clear, the crisis in Nicaragua has not ended with the Cold War. Many contradictions remain. And sound American policy is still necessary to further the growth of democracy there and throughout Latin America. The Civil War in Nicaragua will be essential reading for policymakers, historians, and political scientists.

Full Product Details

9781560007616

Table of Contents

Reviews

[T]he wealth of information from an insider who attended ruling Sandinista directorate meetings makes this an important addition to the ever-increasing literature of the Nicaraguan revolution and the subsequent Sandinista rule. It is a must book for serious study of recent Nicaragua... This readable, well-organized, and nicely edited work is highly recommended for a serious study of Sandinismo. All libraries. </p> --C. W. Arnade, <em>Choice</em></p> The conflict in Nicaragua is one of the least understood struggles of the Cold War. . . . this account clarifies the central issues and dispels many lingering myths.</p> --Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor during the Carter Administration</p> As a guide to the inner workings of the Sandinista regime, this book has no equal. </p> --Alfredo Cesar Aguirre, Speaker of the House of Nicaragua</p> Roger Miranda and Bill Ratliff have taken some very sharp tools and dissected the Sandinista regime. To understand Sandinista Nicaragua, this book is required reading. </p> --Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow of Hudson Institute</p> This ... should go to the top of the reading list on Sandinista Nicaragua ... an authoritative look at who the Sandinistas were and what they intended. </p> --Robert Leiken, coeditor <i>Central American Crisis Reader</i></p>

[T]he wealth of information from an insider who attended ruling Sandinista directorate meetings makes this an important addition to the ever-increasing literature of the Nicaraguan revolution and the subsequent Sandinista rule. It is a must book for serious study of recent Nicaragua... This readable, well-organized, and nicely edited work is highly recommended for a serious study of Sandinismo. All libraries. --C. W. Arnade, Choice The conflict in Nicaragua is one of the least understood struggles of the Cold War. . . . this account clarifies the central issues and dispels many lingering myths. --Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor during the Carter Administration As a guide to the inner workings of the Sandinista regime, this book has no equal. --Alfredo Cesar Aguirre, Speaker of the House of Nicaragua Roger Miranda and Bill Ratliff have taken some very sharp tools and dissected the Sandinista regime. To understand Sandinista Nicaragua, this book is required reading. --Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow of Hudson Institute This ... should go to the top of the reading list on Sandinista Nicaragua ... an authoritative look at who the Sandinistas were and what they intended. --Robert Leiken, coeditor Central American Crisis Reader

-[T]he wealth of information from an insider who attended ruling Sandinista directorate meetings makes this an important addition to the ever-increasing literature of the Nicaraguan revolution and the subsequent Sandinista rule. It is a must book for serious study of recent Nicaragua... This readable, well-organized, and nicely edited work is highly recommended for a serious study of Sandinismo. All libraries.- --C. W. Arnade, Choice -The conflict in Nicaragua is one of the least understood struggles of the Cold War. . . . this account clarifies the central issues and dispels many lingering myths. ---Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor during the Carter Administration -As a guide to the inner workings of the Sandinista regime, this book has no equal.- --Alfredo Cesar Aguirre, Speaker of the House of Nicaragua -Roger Miranda and Bill Ratliff have taken some very sharp tools and dissected the Sandinista regime. To understand Sandinista Nicaragua, this book is required reading.- --Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow of Hudson Institute -This ... should go to the top of the reading list on Sandinista Nicaragua ... an authoritative look at who the Sandinistas were and what they intended.- --Robert Leiken, coeditor Central American Crisis Reader [T]he wealth of information from an insider who attended ruling Sandinista directorate meetings makes this an important addition to the ever-increasing literature of the Nicaraguan revolution and the subsequent Sandinista rule. It is a must book for serious study of recent Nicaragua... This readable, well-organized, and nicely edited work is highly recommended for a serious study of Sandinismo. All libraries. --C. W. Arnade, Choice The conflict in Nicaragua is one of the least understood struggles of the Cold War. . . . this account clarifies the central issues and dispels many lingering myths. --Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor during the Carter Administration As a guide to the inner workings of the Sandinista regime, this book has no equal. --Alfredo Cesar Aguirre, Speaker of the House of Nicaragua Roger Miranda and Bill Ratliff have taken some very sharp tools and dissected the Sandinista regime. To understand Sandinista Nicaragua, this book is required reading. --Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow of Hudson Institute This ... should go to the top of the reading list on Sandinista Nicaragua ... an authoritative look at who the Sandinistas were and what they intended. --Robert Leiken, coeditor Central American Crisis Reader [T]he wealth of information from an insider who attended ruling Sandinista directorate meetings makes this an important addition to the ever-increasing literature of the Nicaraguan revolution and the subsequent Sandinista rule. It is a must book for serious study of recent Nicaragua... This readable, well-organized, and nicely edited work is highly recommended for a serious study of Sandinismo. All libraries. --C. W. Arnade, Choice The conflict in Nicaragua is one of the least understood struggles of the Cold War. . . . this account clarifies the central issues and dispels many lingering myths. --Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor during the Carter Administration As a guide to the inner workings of the Sandinista regime, this book has no equal. --Alfredo Cesar Aguirre, Speaker of the House of Nicaragua Roger Miranda and Bill Ratliff have taken some very sharp tools and dissected the Sandinista regime. To understand Sandinista Nicaragua, this book is required reading. --Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow of Hudson Institute This ... should go to the top of the reading list on Sandinista Nicaragua ... an authoritative look at who the Sandinistas were and what they intended. --Robert Leiken, coeditor Central American Crisis Reader

<p> [T]he wealth of information from an insider who attended ruling Sandinista directorate meetings makes this an important addition to the ever-increasing literature of the Nicaraguan revolution and the subsequent Sandinista rule. It is a must book for serious study of recent Nicaragua... This readable, well-organized, and nicely edited work is highly recommended for a serious study of Sandinismo. All libraries. <p> --C. W. Arnade, Choice <p> The conflict in Nicaragua is one of the least understood struggles of the Cold War. . . . this account clarifies the central issues and dispels many lingering myths. <p> --Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor during the Carter Administration <p> As a guide to the inner workings of the Sandinista regime, this book has no equal. <p> --Alfredo Cesar Aguirre, Speaker of the House of Nicaragua <p> Roger Miranda and Bill Ratliff have taken some very sharp tools and dissected the Sandinista regime. To understand Sandinista Nicaragua, this book is required reading. <p> --Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow of Hudson Institute <p> This ... should go to the top of the reading list on Sandinista Nicaragua ... an authoritative look at who the Sandinistas were and what they intended. <p> --Robert Leiken, coeditor Central American Crisis Reader

Author Information

Roger Miranda was, from 1982 to the end of 1987, chief of the Sandinista Defense Ministry Secretariat and the top aide to Defense Minister and Co-mandante Humberto Ortega. He now lives in the United States.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available