Social Movements in Nicaragua (1979–2014): An Exceptional Case

This chapter presents the evolution of social movements in Nicaragua and its relationship to power and the Frente sandinista liberación nacional (FSLN) over the four periods in the recent history of Nicaragua: the Sandinista Revolution (1979–1990); the decade of neoliberal counter-revolution (1990–2001); the period in which Daniel Ortega and Arnoldo Alemán signed a pact of cooperation and clientelism (2001–2006); and finally the period that the FSLN returned to power (2007–present). The aim of this work is to see how social movements have established different political relationships with the FSLN: first dependency, then of cooperation and, at last, conflict. Finally, the chapter notes how social movements have raised a variety of concerns over the past 40 years.