This case considers the differences between U.S. policy toward
Nicaragua and the policy of one of its closest allies, Canada.
It includes an account of the Nicaragua elections held in
February 1990 and gives special attention to the period
1977-1989—that is, the period of the Carter and Reagan
administrations in the United States and the revolution and
Sandinista rule in Nicaragua. U.S. involvement in Nicaragua
dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. By contrast, Canada
largely ignored Nicaragua prior to the Sandinista revolution of
1979. Furthermore, while U.S. policy toward Nicaragua changed
dramatically over this period, Canadian policy, despite changes
in Canadian governments, remained remarkably consistent. The
most important difference between the policies of the two
countries was that Canada did not support the U.S.-backed Contra
rebels. This striking difference in policy rested on differing
views of U.S. and Canadian decisions makers on the meaning of
human rights and their place in foreign policy.