The Sandinista Revolution

Nominated by the Embassy of Nicaragua

The Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua, which overthrew the Somoza dictatorship, captured global attention in the 1980s. But after the Sandinistas lost power in 1990 and the Iran-Contra affair faded, it was largely forgotten in the United States.

In this book, Mateo Jarquin places the revolution back at the center of Latin American and Cold War history. Using research from Nicaragua, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica, he explores how Sandinista leaders saw their struggle as part of a wider international movement.

The revolution’s impact went far beyond Nicaragua—it influenced Latin American politics, inspired socialists in Europe, and reflected major global shifts such as the rise of democracy and the end of the Cold War.

Jarquin offers a powerful analysis of the last left-wing revolution of the 20th century and its lasting effects on the modern world.