Will the Real 'Che' Guevara Please Stand Up? Labor and Authoritarianism in Sandinista Nicaragua

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of authoritarian left theory, in particular that of Che Guevara, on labor rights during the Sandinista's Nicaraguan revolution. This is important because of the current revival of movements like that of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela that rely on similar approaches to labor and human rights issues as that of the original Sandinista movement. In addition, there is widespread interest today in Che Guevara, yet little is known or understood about his actual politics while in power during the early years of the Cuban revolution. In addition, there is increasing sympathy for such authoritarian approaches to labor activism inside the U.S. labor movement.