Special Case: Nicaragua

Nicaragua has never participated in UN peacekeeping operations, but it is currently seeking to participate to become more active in international affairs, and perhaps for its economic incentive. Nicaragua did not seek to participate in the past due to its internal political environment characterized of dictatorship, civil war, and even natural disasters (BBC 2006ap, par. 1). Also, “Nicaragua has received UN peace operations and has participated in USA-led coalitions. In 1989, Nicaragua received the UN Observer Mission for the Verification of the Electoral Process in Nicaragua (ONUVEN)” (MFA-Canada 2006, par. 1). The OAS deployed a regional peacekeeping force from 1990 to 1993 (Ouellet 2003, 1). With regards to non-UN peace operations, Nicaragua participated in the USA-led coalition to invade Iraq.

Initial variables of the data collection process:

UN/UN peacekeeping policy reform
No record.

Perception of peacekeeping
Nicaragua has received peacekeeping support on many occasions and the interventions have been successful. Also, DPKO argues that Nicaragua is in the process of sending troops.

Domestic political environment
Left-wing Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega made his political comeback in the November 2006 elections (BBC 2006ap, par. 4).

The president-elect, who led Nicaragua through revolution and a civil war before being voted out in 1990, is expected to take office in January 2007. Ortega has sought to calm fears about his Marxist past. He says he will make no major economic changes and he backs a regional free trade deal with the US. It is most likely Nicaragua will continue its efforts to participate in UN peace operations. Washington says it will work with him if he shows a commitment to Nicaragua's democratic future. The president is likely to maintain close ties with fellow socialist leaders in the region, particularly Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Cuba’s Fidel Castro. (Ibid.)

Thus, “Nicaragua’s institutional framework will remain fragile throughout the forecast period and politics will be turbulent as the president, Daniel Ortega of the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN, the Sandinistas), will not control a majority in the legislature” (EIU 2006cd, 1).

Domestic economic environment
Nicaragua is an impoverished country still struggling to recover from a political and economic upheaval in 1979-90 that destroyed infrastructure, reduced productivity and increased poverty levels (EIU 2006ag, 19). It is possible that Nicaragua is interested in participating in UN peace operations for the economic compensation.

Military affairs
The armed forces have always been closely associated with Nicaraguan politics (EIU 2006ag, 13).

The country has experienced frequent internal armed conflicts resulting from political disputes, which have led to military occupation by the US on two occasions. In the 1990s the army underwent a process of contraction and reform to subordinate it to the civilian government. However, the institution retains significant autonomy from the executive branch. (Ibid.)

In 2002 the armed forces numbered an estimated 14,000 (Thomson 2006n, par. 5). The army had around 12,000 personnel equipped with some 127 main battle tanks (Ibid.). The navy had personnel numbering approximately 800, operating five patrol and coastal combatants (Ibid.). The air force of 1,200 had no combat aircraft and 15 armed helicopters (Ibid.). Nicaragua spent $26 million for defence in 1998 or1.2% of GDP (Ibid.).

Foreign policy
Relations have been re-established with the USA and Taiwan (EIU 2006ag, 13). During the 1980s Nicaragua’s most important international links were with the Soviet Union, the rest of the Eastern bloc countries, and Cuba (Ibid).

Relations with the US resumed after 1990 with the defeat of the Sandinistas in elections, leading to generous aid inflows (albeit dependent on political reform), improvements to the country’s human rights record and a satisfactory resolution of disputes arising from the expropriation of US citizens’ property. Nicaragua participates fully in Central American integration. In December 2003 the country concluded negotiations with the US over its participation in [the Dominican Republic, Central America Free Trade Agreement with The United States of America] DRCAFTA, which comprises four other countries in the region (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) and the Dominican Republic. The treaty came into effect in April 2006. In 2000 Nicaragua and Honduras took their disputes over maritime claims in the Atlantic Ocean to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Nicaragua’s relationship with its southern neighbor, Costa Rica, is uneasy on account of Costa Rican concerns about Nicaraguan immigration. (Ibid., 13-14)

Additional variables found after the preliminary analysis:

Climate changes
No record.

Independent negotiations taken by DPKO to seek troops
No record.

Independent negotiations taken by contributor countries to engage non-contributor countries
No record.

Meetings organized by other international organizations to engage in dialogue about peacekeeping

No record.