POL300- Contemporary International Problems The Reagan Era

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RUNNING HEAD: THE REAGAN ERA1The Reagan EraTanya RobinsonMs. Nillab Pazhwak, M.Ed., M.A.POL300-Contemporary International Problems8/31/14In your analysis of Ronald Reagan's foreign and domestic policies, you discuss both thesuccesses and failures of hisadministration, particularly in regard to the Reagan Doctrine and itsimpact on Nicaragua. How did Reagan’s foreign interventions, such as those in Nicaragua,reflect his broader Cold War strategy, and what were the long-term consequences for U.S.relations with Latin America? Additionally, how did Reagan's domestic policies, such as tax cutsand economic reforms, influence the American economy and political landscape?Word Count Requirement: 800-1000 words.

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THE REAGAN ERA2On Friday October 16, 1981, President Ronald Reagan wrote in his personal diary,“Central America is really the world’s next hotspot. Nicaragua is an armed camp supplied byCuba and threatening a communist takeover of all of Central America.” (The Reagan Diaries,2007) For the next eight years as Commander-in-Chief, this mindset would shape his perspectiveon the small Third World country about the size of North Carolina. The Administration’spolicies, actions, and attitudes toward Nicaragua and other perceived hostile nations becameknown as “Reagan Doctrine.” The defeat of the Nicaraguan Revolution became the “cornerstoneof the Reagan Central American policy and the test case of Reagan Doctrine.” (U.S. Interventionin the Nicaraguan Elections and American Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era, 1992)Reagan Doctrine was not a label coined by President Reagan or his administration. It wasa term used later by his critics to define his foreign policy strategy for countries around theworld. The Reagan Doctrine was a strategy to aidanti-communist, or more specifically, anti-Soviet insurgencies in the Third World during Reagan’s two terms as president from 1981-1989.The primary goal was to overthrow Marxist regimes and/or prevent Marxist regimes frombecoming established.Reagan wasted no time getting started in the implementation of his foreign policy. TheAdministration’s first comprehensive “U.S. National Security Strategy,” which was a documentapproved by the President in May of 1982, stated the objective to “contain and reverse theexpansion of Soviet control and military presence throughout the world, and to increase the costsof Soviet support and use of proxy, terrorist and subversive forces.”(Presidential Studies, 2006)Reagan made staunch calls for public supportin his efforts. In the State of the Union Address in1985, for example, he stated that the U.S. must “not break faith with those who are risking theirlives—on every continent, from Afghanistan to Nicaragua—to defy Soviet-supported

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THE REAGAN ERA3aggression.” One year later he boldly remarked that “America will support with moral andmaterial assistance your right not just to fight and die for freedom, but to fight and winfreedom…in Afghanistan, in Angola, in Cambodia, and in Nicaragua.”(Political ScienceQuarterly, 2007)In most of these nations, the aggressive policies and actions of Reagan caused severedamage. In Nicaragua for example, the economy was decimated by U.S. sanctions andmanipulation of its banking institutions. The Administration, supported by Congress, funded awar against the Sandinista National Liberation Front (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional,or FSLN). It was a war fought by various Nicaraguan rebel groups, labeled the Contras, whichsought to overthrow the Sandinistas, who came to power after the revolution in 1979.“The development of Contra forces began in 1981 when Reagan authorized $19.5 millionin funding for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to construct a paramilitary force of 500Nicaraguan exiles from deposed President Anastasio Somoza’s National Guard.” (InternationalSecurity, 1990)Along with congressionally funded aid, members of the Reagan Administrationattained additional funds through the illicit sales of arms to Iran. Funds from these sales werefunneled to the Contras. When this illegal activity was revealed in the “Iran-Contra Affair” inNovember of 1986, it led to the indictment and conviction of many of Reagan’s staff.Reagan policy in Nicaragua was failure in many respects. The Contra war was ill-conceived and did not enjoy support of the people of Nicaragua. The rebel forces neverlegitimately threatened the Sandinista government and military. The U.S. failed to gaininternational support for the war or its political and economic actions. In fact, Reaganwas

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