Third Party Intervention in Nicaragua

Three models of third party intervention have been prominent in conflicts involving the Nicaragua government during the 1980s: indirect armed force; the use of intermediaries; and conflict moderation. In the first, the US through low intensity warfare has sought to reduce conflict by forcibly changing Nicaragua’s political structure and leadership. In the second model, intermediaries in the civil conflicts in Nicaragua have gone beyond the conventional model of neutral third party intervention to indigenous trust-based conciliation. In the third and final approach, Nicaragua conflict has been moderated by the presence of foreign third parties committed to peaceful resolution of conflict. Experience with these three variants of third party intervention may inform future peacemaking efforts in developing areas of the world.