AFTERMATH OF REVOLUTION: LABOR
CONDITIONS AND AFTERTHOUGHTS
• Latin America is a slave economy
masquerading as postmodern: it pays
African wages, it charges European prices,
and the merchandise it produces most
efficiently is injustice and violence
(Eduardo Galeano 1998: 29).
Today’s assessment
Aftermath of revolution: What happened to the
revolutionary social, political and economic gains
brought about by the Nicaraguan revolution in the
1980’s? —Why and how were these policies and
issues rolled back by the new conservative and
liberal governments ?
• What do these social and political changes mean to
the great majority of Nicaraguans?
• What does the future hold for Nicaraguans?
http://marcus.whitman.edu/~bl
oomqcm/
Two major events that contributed to the
dismantling of revolutionary gains
• Electoral defeat: local level due to a
number of factors
• Advancement of neo-liberal policies
--International policies for development
--pressure from international lending
organizations: IBD, IMF
Creating the conditions for major
changes
• Elimination of revolutionary gains as
obstacles for industrial development
• Become a priority of the post-Sandinista
structures of power
• Economic and political backing from the
USA
Revolutionary gains
• Agrarian reform:
--land distribution
--accessibility to credit
--education
Worker’s rights
• Bargaining power strengthen
• Labor laws
• More workers organized
Women’s rights
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Legal framework
Practical terms: maternity leave
Education
Creation of organizations
Establishment of democratic
institutions
• Creation of CSE
• Creation of national assembly
• First elections: 1984
Healthcare
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Universal medicare
Health brigades,
Health education
Rural access
Healthcare
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Universal medicare
Health brigades,
Health education
Rural access
Education
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Public education
Literacy campaign
Continuing education
6% for universities
National identity
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Sense of independence
Sense of possibilities
Control of destiny
Flexibility in diplomatic relations
Impact of reversal of Sandinista’s
gains
• Government control lifted:
• Abundance of food but no one can afford it
• From collective solidarity to ruthless
individualism
Reasons behind structural
adjustments
• . USA interest in eliminate government
obstacles to trade
• 2. -Promote reforms to political and military
institutions to their liking
• 3. Encourage Central American economic
and political integration under North
American Dominance
Economic consequences
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Agrarian reform dismantled
Education; major changes
Health care: privatize
Women’s rights: under threat
National identity: becomes under the
influence of USA policies
• Labor issues: situation as bad as in
Somoza’s time
PPP
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Plan Puebla Panama
64 million people
Eight countries
Infrastructure, development and jobs
Maquila assembly factories