Books by Rose J. Spalding

This book, first published in 1987, is a solid, analytical exploration of the complex dynamics of the revolutionary economic transformation from 1979 to 1986. It provides a clear picture of the goals, internal debates, external influences and shifting policy decisions which affected the efforts of the Sandinista government.

In 2004, the United States, five Central American countries, and the Dominican Republic signed the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), signaling the region's commitment to a neoliberal economic model. This book offers the study of debate over CAFTA, tracing the agreement's drafting, its passage, and its aftermath across Central America.

By tracing the complex relationship between the Sandinista government and the Nicaraguan business elite, this book examines the shifting mix of alliances and oppositions that shaped the Sandinista revolution. Rose Spalding documents responses to the Sandinista government that range from extreme ideological hostility to enthusiastic support.