Strategy in Latin American Revolutionary Politics.

The purpose of this thesis are 1 to study the process that has led to the elaboration of this most recent formulation of strategy, and 2 to examine how the Nicaraguan victory fits the strategic model postulated by the theoreticians of Guerra Popular Revolucionaria. The variables emphasized in this study are those identified as the most significant components of contemporary revolutionary strategy in Latin America objective conditions, ideology, leadership, party-army relations, U.S. policy, and Soviet influence. In final analysis, these variables support the theory of popular revolutionary war. In the long run, the war will be based on mass support. The guerrillas will fight to incorporate the population into their organizations and ally with existing groups. They will not fight initially to seize power, but to gain and secure a broad base among the people. Only when a substantial number of the people have been mobilized and partially organized will there be an attempt to take power.