Republic of Nicaragua
The Republic of Nicaragua is a capitalist state which currently has a socialistic government. It is situated in Central America.
History
In 1979, the socialist movement (known as the Sandinistas) overthrew the anticommunist dictatorship and used its newly acquired political power to raise the standards for the lower classes. However, the United States soon sanctioned femicidal[1] anticommunists (known as Contras) in an effort to overthrow the republic.[2]
Politics
In June 2017, the mainstream polling firm M&R Consultores confirmed that 78.3 percent of Nicaraguans approved of the management of the Nicaraguan government,[3] and found in January 2020 that 63.5 percent of Nicaraguans plan to vote for the Sandinista Front in the 2021 election (whereas only around 11.5 percent of the population actively support the opposition).[4]
Economy
The socialists improved Nicaraguan nutrition;[5] according to the United Nations, the socialists’ policies have cut malnutrition drastically in recent years,[6] and data from the World Bank indicate that the socialists have also reduced Nicaraguan poverty by half.[7] They have reduced unemployment as well.[5] One study detailing the successful land reform programs in Nicaragua under the socialists:
The Nicaraguan agrarian reform accomplished more during its first year of operation than most agrarian reforms achieve over much longer periods. […] Rural workers were organized into a strong, national union, and began to receive better wages and to participate in government policy formulation and implementation. The necessary institutional framework for effective agricultural research, planning, and administration began to be developed. Finally, production levels by the end of 1980 were, with the exception of cotton, nearly those of pre-war levels for export crops, and at a par or higher for basic grains for the internal market. These accomplishments were all the more impressive given the widespread destruction and crop failures facing Nicaragua at the end of the war.
— David Kaimowitz and Joseph R. Thome, [8]
During the 2010s though, the republic also reintroduced some austerity measures and other neoliberal policies.
Infrastructure
Social security improved significantly during the 1980s:
The social security system is expanding rapidly. Since 1979, the percentage of the working population covered by social security has doubled, from 16 per cent to 32 per cent. Perhaps more importantly, most of the newly covered groups work in the formerly neglected agricultural sectors in outlying parts of the country. INSS coverage provides retirement insurance and workers' compensation among other non-medical benefits.
— Richard M. Garfield, RN, MPH, and Eugenio Taboada, MD, [9]
Health
Before the Nicaraguan revolution of 1979, access to health services was largely limited to the affluent sectors of the urban population and the minority of workers with social security coverage. Repeated attempts at reform by organized medicine were ineffective. Since the revolution, a tremendous expansion in health services has occurred.
— Richard M. Garfield, RN, MPH, and Eugenio Taboada, MD, [9]
This study confirms enormous increases in Nicaraguan healthcare after the revolution:
Developments in health services, prevention activities, and education may be related to rapid improvements in the population’s health status since 1979. It is estimated that, between 1978 and 1983, infant mortality decreased from 121 to 80.2 per 1,000 live births, life expectancy at birth rose from 52 to 59 years. The number of reported malaria cases has decreased by 50 per cent, polio cases have not been reported for two years, no measles cases were reported in the first half of 1984, and most other immunization preventable diseases are considerably reduced. […] Given the economic and military attacks on the health system, maintaining the formidable achievements of the last four years may be considered a success.
— Richard M. Garfield, RN, MPH, and Eugenio Taboada, MD, [9]
Education
UNESCO confirmed that a literacy campaign had massively reduced illiteracy in the 1980s, stating:
The outcomes of the campaign were something to be proud of. […] Nicaragua made a substantial contribution to the world’s experience in finding solutions to eradicate illiteracy.
— Dr. Ulrike Hanemann, [10]
Culture
The World Economic Forum has confirmed that the ruling party has greatly improved gender quality among Nicaraguans.[11]
See also
References
- ↑ Villchur, Edgar (1990-01-21). "No Credible Doubt That Contras Murdered Nuns". Archived from the original on 2015-05-25.
- ↑ Chomsky, Noam. "The Contra War in Nicaragua".
- ↑ "78.3% de nicaragüenses aprueban gestión de Daniel y Rosario". 2017-07-13.
- ↑ "FSLN ganaría con un techo de 63.5% elecciones del 2021 en Nicaragua". Telenica Canal 8. 2019-09-02.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Prevost, Gary (1996). "The Nicaraguan revolution-six years after the Sandinista electoral defeat". Third World Quarterly. 17 (2). doi:10.1080/01436599650035707.
- ↑ "Nicaragua Profile".
- ↑ "Nicaragua".
- ↑ Kaimowitz, David; Thome, Joseph. "Nicaragua's Agrarian Reform: The First Year (1979–80)" (PDF). University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Garfield, Richard; Taboada, Eugenio (1984). "Health Services Reforms in Revolutionary Nicaragua" (PDF). American Journal of Public Health. 74 (10): 1138–44.
- ↑ Hanemann, Ulrike (2005). Template:Citation/make link. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000146007. Hanemann, Ulrike (2005). Nicaragua’s literacy campaign.
- ↑ "An Investigation Into the Reported Closing of the Nicaraguan Gender Gap". University of Munich.