University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Dissertations, Theses, & Student Research, History, Department of Department of History Spring 5-2016 Conflict Beyond Borders: The nI ternational Dimensions of Nicaragua's Violent Twentieth- Century, 1909-1990 Andrew William Wilson University of Nebraska-Lincoln Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/historydiss Part of the Diplomatic History Commons, Latin American History Commons, Other History Commons, and the United States History Commons Wilson, Andrew William, "Conflict Beyond Borders: The nI ternational Dimensions of Nicaragua's Violent Twentieth-Century, 1909-1990" (2016). Dissertations, Theses, & Student Research, Department of History. 87. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/historydiss/87 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the History, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, & Student Research, Department of History by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. CONFLICT BEYOND BORDERS: THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS OF NICARAGUA’S VIOLENT TWENTIETH-CENTURY, 1909-1990 by Andrew W. Wilson A DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Major: History Under the Supervision of Professor Thomas Borstelmann Lincoln, Nebraska May, 2016 CONFLICT BEYOND BORDERS: THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS OF NICARAGUA’S VIOLENT TWENTIETH CENTURY, 1909-1990 Andrew William Wilson, Ph.D. University of Nebraska, 2016 Advisor: Thomas Borstelmann The purpose of this research is to identify the importance of Nicaraguan political contests in the global twentieth century. The goal is to demonstrate that, despite its relatively small size, Nicaragua significantly influenced the course of modern history. This has been done by examining the international contestations between Nicaragua’s revolutionary and counterrevolutionary currents from Augusto Sandino’s resistance to U.S. imperialism, to the machinations of the Somoza family, and the Contra War of the 1980s. Upon examination of these events, it becomes clear that Nicaraguans on both sides of the conflict proved adept at cultivating and utilizing transnational networks of material and moral support. By analyzing these events through a transnational lens, this research demonstrates the ability of local peoples to impact global politics. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation represents the culmination of many years of work that would not have been possible without the support of a large community of people who have helped me along the way. First, I would like to thank those groups and institutions that made this project possible through their generous support. I am deeply indebted to the History Department, which provided me with the financial and moral support to carry out my research. I would also like to acknowledge the staff at Love Library, particularly the Interlibrary Loan department, who processed my incessant requests for documents. The archivists at the Archiv Grünes Gedächtnis in Berlin and at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum also played an invaluable role, helping me navigate their holdings and directing me towards important documents. To my faculty at the University of Nebraska, thank you for being such wonderful resources and role models. I am grateful to my dissertation committee members, Drs. James Garza, Margaret Jacobs, and Patrice McMahon, for agreeing to read and review my work. I am deeply appreciative of your comments and suggestions. I am particularly indebted to my adviser and mentor, Dr. Thomas Borstelmann, who has been a guiding influence since I started graduate school. Thank you for encouraging me to pursue my own interests as a scholar and for modeling the kind of compassionate mentorship I hope to emulate someday. To my parents, thank you for your love and support. You helped me develop a deep love of learning that I am appreciative of everyday. I am very lucky to be your son. Finally, to Claire, I am so grateful for your affection. I could not have done any of this without you. You are my partner and my best friend. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................................... III MAPS ........................................................................................................................................................... VI INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 1 CHAPTER ONE: THE ORIGINS OF NICARAGUA’S REVOLUTIONARY AND COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY INTERNATIONALISM ....................................................................18 NICARAGUA AND THE WORLD ...................................................................................................................19 AUGUSTO SANDINO AND LATIN AMERICAN NATIONALISM .......................................................................26 THE TRANSNATIONAL SANDINO REBELLION ..............................................................................................33 ANASTASIO SOMOZA GARCÍA AND THE BIRTH OF THE GLOBAL COUNTERREVOLUTION ............................48 CONCLUSION ..............................................................................................................................................65 CHAPTER TW0: THE INTERNATIONAL ANTI-SOMOZA MOVEMENT AND THE COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY REACTION .........................................................................................67 SOMOZA GARCÍA VERSUS THE CARIBBEAN EXILE MOVEMENT ..................................................................71 THE COSTA RICAN CIVIL WAR...................................................................................................................80 SOMOZA GARCIA AND THE SPECTER OF THE LEGION .................................................................................90 SOMOZA GARCÍA, FIGUERES, AND THE GUATEMALAN COUP .....................................................................97 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ANTI-SOMOZA MOVEMENT .................................................110 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................124 CHAPTER THREE: THE BIRTH OF THE FSLN AND THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY ALLIANCE .......................................................................................128 NICARAGUA AND THE CUBAN REVOLUTION ............................................................................................131 THE SOMOZA FAMILY AND THE GLOBAL COUNTERREVOLUTION IN THE 1950S AND 1960S .....................148 THE SOMOZA REGIME AND CUBAN EXILES ..............................................................................................156 THE BIRTH OF THE FSLN .........................................................................................................................167 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................181 CHAPTER FOUR: THE NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION AND THE FALL OF THE SOMOZA DYNASTY ..................................................................................................................................................184 THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS REVOLUTION AND THE NICARAGUAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ..........190 THE CHRISTMAS EARTHQUAKE AND THE INTERNATIONAL REACTION .....................................................198 THE FSLN AND THE INTERNATIONAL NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION ..........................................................204 INTERNATIONAL OPPOSITION TO THE SOMOZA REGIME ...........................................................................219 THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOMOZA REGIME .................................................................................................231 v CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................244 CHAPTER FIVE: THE TRANSNATIONAL CONTRA WAR...........................................................247 THE NICARAGUAN ANTI-SANDINISTA MOVEMENT ..................................................................................252 ARGENTINA AND THE ORIGINS OF THE TRANSNATIONAL CONTRA WAR ..................................................258 IRAN-CONTRA AND THE GLOBAL ANTI-SANDINISTA MOVEMENT ...........................................................273 THE FSLN AND THE INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CONTRA WAR MOVEMENT ..................................................286 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................303 EPILOGUE: THE 1990 ELECTION AND BEYOND ...........................................................................307 CONCLUSION ..........................................................................................................................................313 BIBLIOGRAPHY .....................................................................................................................................319 vi MAPS THE CARIBBEAN ....................................................................................................................................