Culture Briefing. Nicaragua - Research Paper Example

? Culture Briefing Culture Briefing Understanding the culture, traditions, values, and ethics of the people of Nicaragua requires anassessment into the various aspects of their lives including history, politics, geography, economic, and other factors that sum up the manner in which they recognize the world around them. Equally, it is important to appreciate the element of diversity that weaves through the fabric of the Nicaraguan society in such a manner that influences the way people perceive reality and respond to various experiences. The combined forces that define the Nicaraguan national values have a significant influence on the people in terms of their likes and preferences. As such, all systems and strategies of leadership have to address themselves to these unique attributes in order to achieve some level of meaning and efficiency. Nicaragua has gone through a troubled history with challenges on nearly all the spheres of her national life. Appropriating these challenges into opportunities is a leadership skill that entails strategy, reflection, and judgment. Nicaragua is situated in Central America on the borders of Honduras and Costa Rica to the North and South respectively. Nicaragua’s geographical positioning places it within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea surround the country to the west and east respectively. In terms of size, Nicaragua remains the largest country in Central America. Two lowlands and a highland divide the country (Gritzner, 2010). The lowlands are the Pacific lowlands and the Caribbean lowlands while the central highland situates at the center of the country. In this regard, it follows that much of the country features significant aspects of geographical features that relate to the highland and the two lowlands. Nicaragua remains one of the biologically unique countries due to its unique ecosystems, which thrive within the fertile areas of the country. The element of biodiversity features among the country’s attraction as a destination of tourism and research. In essence, some of the issues that attend to the element of diversity have to be regarded in terms of the distinguishing geographical features that separate the country into its unique aspects. It might be argued that the determination of the country’s diversity is to be determined through a vast array of features that determine the manner in which it relates to the element of diversity. In this regard, some of the issues that attend to the element of diversity have to be considered within the context of geographical uniqueness and the rich tropical climate that enables the thriving of the diverse ecosystem in the Central American country (Staten, 2010). Its vast geographical space offers unique advantages that connect within the social and environmental spheres as understood within the element of cultural diversity. The history of Nicaragua weaves together the origin, lives, and experiences of the original inhabitants and the indigenous groups of the region before bringing out the various aspects of life that connect with the experiences of colonialism and the struggles of the post-colonial country. The original inhabitants of Nicaragua were people who spoke the Chibcha language. They lived simple lives and practiced hunting and gathering as their mainstay. The original inhabitants lacked permanent places as they kept shifting from one region to another, within the vast countryside, in search for food and water. Conflicts between them and other indigenous group led to migrations and settlements in areas that would later define the different ethnic compositions of Nicaragua (Baracco, 2005). However, the inhabitants who made the most significant impact on the history of Nicaragua were the people of Nicarao ethnic group from whom the name Nicaragua was derived. These people later encountered the Spanish conquers who mingled with the native women leading to the mixed race of the mixed race that constitutes the dominant race of the people of Nicaragua. The migration patterns of the people in Nicaragua were affected by the active volcanic activities that happen occasionally in the country. People tended to settle in areas the lacked a high level of threat with regard of the possible eruption of the volcanoes. Understanding the process of migrations and settlement also relates to the matter of relative fertility of the lands. Communities tended to settle in the fertile low lands, which could guarantee a higher element of food security as compared to the dry areas of the region. Internal conflicts within communities and competition for limited space and resources in the country also affected the movement and settlement of communities. On this account, it might be argued that the environmental factors combine with social factors to determine the patterns of settlement in Nicaragua. The history of Nicaragua is significantly connected to the influences of Spanish exploration. The Spanish explorers sanctioned by their ruler explored parts of South America in their pursuit of adventure, settlement, and treasure. The initial phases of settlement and conquest were met with stiff resistance from the natives before they were finally subdued by the invading Spanish conquerors (Baracco, 2005). The original Spanish settlers fought for the dominance of Nicaragua leading to massive deaths and ruin among the local population. However, some of conflicts led to unique patterns of interactions between the parties as many of the conquered groups sought to reestablish their control over many parts of the country. As such, it becomes appropriate to consider the emergence of Nicaragua’s population in terms of the sum of influences and struggles that took place in terms of the interaction between the dominant groups and the weaker subjects. The Spanish conquers fought each other for the control of parts of the region in a way that affected the lives of the natives. Many of the natives were later sold as slaves to the slave merchants who traversed the region in search for labor to work in the new worlds. As such, the native populations are consciously aware of the various aspects of life that determine matters of perceptions from a particular point of racism and slavery. On this score, it might be argued that the determination of the various aspects of general interest relate to the manner in which perceptions influence people to adopt various attitudes and worldviews of a people. The colonization of Nicaragua began in 1536 (Baracco, 2005). The colonial phase of Nicaragua was also projected through the kind of struggles that pitted the Spanish colonialists against the British. The British sought to wrest the control of Nicaragua from Spain but logistics and other factors delayed and defeated the mission. The process of colonialism proceeded with various adverse effects on the social and political organization of the natives. After a series of political activities within and without the region, the Declaration of Independence of the First Mexican Empire was passed. This development meant that Nicaragua was now part of the empire and that it could determine the future of political activities in the new system. Nicaragua gained independence in 1838. Like other Central American countries, the early stages of Nicaragua’s independence were marked by heavy turmoil, political disturbances, and power struggles between the political elite and the foreign powers who sought various kinds of interests in the new republic. These incidents led to periods of political uncertainties that were marked by low economic activities and other issues that connected within the combined forces that guided the political processes (Baracco, 2005). On this note, it might be argued that some of the issues that attended to the establishment of weak political systems relate with the impact of the instabilities of the period. On this note, it has often been argued that the determination of political stability in Nicaragua requires a balance of options between safeguarding the country’s private interests and promoting the interests of the global powers that seek to determine the course of history for the country. The United States involvement into the political affairs of the country marked one of the most volatile moments in the country’s post-independence era. The United States sought to offer support to some rebel groups that sprung up to challenge the position of the government on certain matters of national importance. The resulting conflicts had the impact of weakening relations with other nations and developing internal tensions within the government due to the emergence of dissident groups (Baracco, 2005). The multiple influences from within and without the country have created a lasting effect that connects certain matters that have emerged to determine the manner in which the people of Nicaragua view themselves. Although the democratic process of the country is democratic in nature, reservations still lurk among many of the country’s minority groups that their interests are ignored (Vidgen, 2010). Nicaragua is not a homogenous country in terms of values and preferences. The country features pockets of influences and fragmented classes of people with various group interests, which seek to determine the manner in which the people might influence the processes of thought and articulate some unique cultural preferences. It might be necessary to consider the fact that the people of Nicaragua hold fast on certain values that connect with influences they acquired from the Spanish colonizers including British and American values that affect their worldviews. On this matter, it becomes important to consider the fact that effective leadership should seek to establish the common points of interest within the seemingly diverse opinions presented in the character and attitudes of the people. Engaging in effective leadership would necessarily require the application of inclusive strategies and policies that foster integration. Interracial perspectives and approaches should constitute part of the strategies in order to achieve some significant elements of progress. It would be appropriate to consider the fact that some of the issues that connect to the aspect of leadership require the application of systems that operate on the lines of harmony within disparate groups and self-determination of the people. The adoption of affirmative action policies would be necessary in order to help the less privileged groups within the population to blend meaningfully into the discourses of the economy and other factors that are pertinent to group and individual progress. Such are the traits that would enable quality leadership within the Nicaraguan context. References Baracco, L. (2005). Nicaragua: The imagining of a nation: from nineteenth-century liberals to twentieth-century sandinistas. New York: Algora. Gritzner, C. F. (2010). Nicaragua. New York: Chelsea House. Staten, C. L. (2010). The history of Nicaragua. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood. Vidgen, L. (2010). Nicaragua. New York: Lonely Planet. Read More