Resource Mobilization and Political Opportunity in the Nicaraguan Revolution:

Abstract

Abstract. A resource mobilization political opportunities paradigm of revolution in the Third World yields the hypotheses; Sufficient poverty, corruption, and social, economic, and political inequalities, grievances and discontent are assumed to exist in most Third World autocracies to legitimate violent revolution. Yet, revolution is rare, having more to do with resources, organization, strategy, and opportunities than with generalized discontent. The following factors stand out: an expanding middle class, growing university enrollments, and urbanization; the existence of an internationally assisted revolutionary organization with leadership steeped in militant ideology; and a regime unable or unwilling to resort to large‐scale repression, or which fails to respond early and decisively to revolutionary challenges. One such factor describes Marxist‐Leninist revolutionaries, plus the know‐how for “stealing” a revolution. A subsequent article tests these generalizations regarding the Nicaraguan revolution.