The Sandinista Front Summary

Furthermore, Christian’s anti-Sandinista views add an interesting dynamic to scholarship on this topic. A majority of the works contributing to this field are primarily focused on how Augosto Sandino and the FSLN revolutionized the identity of the Nicaraguan government. Her book, however, aims to inspire other historians to re-assess the merit of the FSLN actions. Christian’s criticisms are vastly unpopular but add a compelling contrast to the popular views of the FSLN. She says, “The Sandinista Front [FSLN] probably would have become a footnote to history had a moderate regime been able to assume power in Nicaragua before the end of 1978.”(373) Christian’s convictions on this topic clash with the views of most historians. Nonetheless, she exposes another side to the FSLN that is not well documented in Nicaraguan historiography. Soon after the publication of Christian’s work, Jose L. Coraggio published Nicaragua Revolution and Democracy, which addressed the social repercussions the FLSN and democracy had on Nicaraguan society. Straying from Christian’s method of interjecting her

Specifically, Hodges focuses on the uniqueness of Augosto Sandino’s ideologies and how he founded them. Hodges’ work is similar to Coraggio in that they both aim to illustrate the importance the Sandinistas had on social aspects of the revolution. However, Hodges analyzes the philosophic facets of the revolution in hopes to resolve what he calls, “Interpretations of the Nicaraguan Revolution have been animated by undisguised political passions.”(x) He goes on to explain that, “Highly respected scholars, including Latin America specialists, are sharply divided over how to interpret the revolution.”(x). Hodges’ work takes up a daunting task, however, he efficiently combats this by investigating the philosophical