Proquest Dissertations
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Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI* Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Art»r, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 SUBALTERN PERSPECTIVES ON A REVOLUTIONARY STATE : THE SANDINISTA-MISKITU CONFLICT IN NICARAGUA, 1979-1990 DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Anupama Mande, M.A., M.Phil. ***** The Ohio State University 1999 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Professor Ileana Rodriguez, Adviser Professor Kenneth J. Andrien Professor Nancy Ettlinger Professor Thomas W. Walker Adviser Interdisciplinary Program ÜMI Number: 9941378 UMI Microform 9941378 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Copyright by Anupama Mande 1999 ABSTRACT Most historical narratives of the Sandinista revolution and the Miskitu demand for regional autonomy on the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua represent an assumed unity called the "Nicaraguan people" that is always split into two—the modernizing Sandinistas and the yet-to-be- modernized Miskitus. Many of these narratives speak from within a metanarrative whose theoretical subjects are U.S. imperialism and Sandinista revolutionary nationalism. The first half of my dissertation demonstrates that these historical narratives are not monologic; In fact, they are replete with ambiguity and paradox that allow for conflicting readings and challenging voices. However, my interest is not limited to deconstructing master narratives; rather the purpose is to present a wide variety of Nicaraguan voices in order to show how meanings are chosen and how they compete because texts and contexts force us to rethink causality. 11 The second half of my dissertation problematizes two assumptions that underlie most nationalist and Marxist analyses of regional autonomy in Nicaragua. First, economic grievances transformed Miskitus into political actors. Second, in the context of US intervention and the Miskitu- US alliance, Sandinistas could not defend the revolution without suppressing Miskitus. Drawing on the work of postcolonial and new social movement theorists, my dissertation suggests that cultural differences and resistance/counter-hegemonic movements should not be viewed merely as the contention between antagonistic traditions of cultural value. The interaction between the revolutionary state and Miskitus was more sinuous; the articulation of their cultural differences in the construction of a national culture can help us explore forms of cultural identity and political solidarity that emerged in Nicaragua during the 1980s. My dissertation does not develop a critique of past scholarship in an attempt to produce a new theory which presumes to explain the Sandinista-Miskitu conflict by reducing it to something else. Instead, it problematizes the nature of cultural spaces created by the revolutionary state, and raises questions about the study and writing of hybrid cultures in Latin America. iii In memory of my lovely sister, Neela S c For Amma, Baba, and Vivek Pues no hay dolor mas grande que el dolor de ser vivo, ni mayor pesadumbre que la vida consciente. Rubén Dario, Lo Fatal IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The most constant intellectual stimulus in my efforts to understand imperialism, revolutions, democracy, neoliberalism, and indigenous communities in Central America has been my dissertation adviser. Prof. Ileana Rodriguez. I take this opportunity to express my heart-felt gratitude to her for academic advice and support. On innumerable occasions, we have spent several hours working together on proposals and memos to Graduate School concerning my doctoral program and research interests; I truly appreciate her patience, love, encouragement, and determination. I also thank her and Roberto Guibernau for introducing me to some of the most loving and gentle people in Nicaragua. I am indebted to Prof. Thomas W. Walker, Director of Latin American Studies at Ohio University, Athens, for his intellectual support for my doctoral program and expert comments on my dissertation from which I have benefited V immensely. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to him for agreeing to serve on my exam and dissertation committees, and coming all the way to Columbus for my exams. I thank Prof. Kenneth Andrien and Prof. Nancy Ettlinger for their critical assessments of my research papers and dissertation. It was a pleasure to work with them and their suggestions and comments helped me think clearly and logically. It is a pleasure to acknowledge my gratitude to Prof. Sabra J. Webber from the Dept, of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. Her own research as well as her intellectual support for my project have taught me a lot about doing fieldwork on sensitive political issues; there is no doubt that her support made it possible for me to complete my doctoral dissertation at Ohio State. I also learned a great deal from conversations and classes taught by Dr. Margaret Lynd, Prof. Daniel T. Reff, and Prof. Lindsay Jones from the Division of Comparative Studies in the Humanities; Prof. Verta Taylor from the Dept, of Sociology; Prof. Cathy Rakowski from the Dept, of Rural Sociology; and Prof. Felipe Agùero, who taught in the Dept. of Political Science. vx Financial assistance for my research in Nicaragua was provided by the Tinker Foundation, Office of International Studies, Graduate School, and History Department at The Ohio State University. I thank Joby Abernathy and Prof. Leila Rupp from the History Department for taking care of some of the paper work involved with the One-of-a-Kind Program. I made two research trips to Managua, where I stayed with Teresa and Ramon Chavez Alfaro, my closest friends in Nicaragua. I am grateful to them for their hospitality, affection, friendship, and warmth. I am particularly indebted to them for helping me cope with immigration problems during my first trip to Nicaragua. I also wish to acknowledge my gratitude to Luis Rocha and Luis Navarro for their pleasant company and sharing their memories of "la révolueion" whenever we gathered under the big mango tree in Ramon's house!. At the Centro de Investigacion y Documentacion de la Costa Atlantica (CIDCA) in Managua, special thanks are due to: Alvaro Rivas Gomez, Mario Rizo Zeledon, and Virgilio Rivera Alvarez for sharing their knowledge and expertise on the topic. I would also like to thank Lydia, Mike, and Londa for their help with research materials. In Bilwi, I vii stayed with Julieta Gradiz and her family. I wish to express my gratitude to her, Bismarck Vega, Don Ramon, Julieser, Yasser, and Marjorie for their hospitality, affection, and help with my research. I wish to thank all those who filled out my questionnaires, but special thanks are due to: Adela, David Bradford Wilson, Dennis Williamson, Hazel Lau, and Maureen from CIDCA; Dina Mary and Lloyd Bushey, Marcelo Borges, Olga Escobar, Renato, Rev. Norman Bent and his wife, Modestina from the Moravian Church in Managua. In Bilwi, I thank Don Scott from El Consejo de Ancianos; Christian from La Organization Contra el Sida; Glenis Escobar, Fidel Wilson, Jorge Frederick, and Doha Juana from AMIGA. My most enduring gratitude is reserved for my parents, Gopal and Ashalata, as well as my brother, Vivek. I dedicate this study to them as a token of my appreciation for their love, advice, constant encouragement, and financial assistance on which I have relied very heavily; their unconditional support made my education and research in the United States, Mexico, and Nicaragua not only possible but also very enjoyable. Vl ll VITA January 3, 1967--- Born— Nagpur, India June 1987_________ B.A. History, University of Madras, India June 1989_________ M.A. History, University of Poona, India December 1990_____ M.Phil. History, University of Poona, India June 1994_________ M.A. History, The Ohio State University 1991-1997_________ Graduate Research Assistant, Division of Comparative Studies in the Humanities, The Ohio State University 1997-199 8_________ Graduate Teaching Associate, Division of Comparative Studies in the Humanities,