West German Economic Relations with the Sandinista Government

Abstract

This thesis is a case study that concerns the economic and political relationship between the Sandinista government of Nicaragua and the Federal Republic of Germany, an American ally. The primary objective of this thesis is to show that, in a loose bipolar world, members of a bloc may not perceive another nation to be a threat to the bloc leader, while the bloc leader perceives this particular nation to be a threat to its national interests and economic interests. This will be determined with the help of economic aid, trade, and private investment statistics between the bloc leader, bloc member nations, and the target nation. An attempt will also be made to determine to what extent West Germany and u.s. allies in Europe are providing economic aid and trade for Nicaragua following U.S. economic embargoes.