Eine sehr besondere Revolution, die ich kennenlernen wollte : die österreichische Nicaragua-Solidaritätsbewegung 1979-1990

Abstract

The Nicaraguan revolution of 1979 inspired a wide range of people around the world. About 15 000 auf them – around 200 from Austria – travelled to the Central American country during the 1980s in order to witness the revolution first hand and to participate in the construction of an (allegedly) better society; thousands more were active in their home countries, trying to organize solidarity for revolutionary Nicaragua. The predominantly young activists believed they would witness and participate in the fulfilment of their revolutionary ideals. Based on interviews with former activists and hitherto unused archival material, the book reconstructs the Austrian solidarity movement from its enthusiastic origins to its disappointing decline in the context of the FSLN’s electoral defeat in 1990. The focus is on the diverse forms of activism, the activists’ motivations, tensions between revolutionary solidarity and institutionalised development aid, and the process of decline with all its implications since 1990. The book contributes to a broader understanding of social movements, especially international solidarity activism, its conditions of development and dynamics.