UNO - WHAT HAPPENED TO AUTONOMY - POLITICS AND ETHNICITY ON NICARAGUAATLANTIC COAST

Current debates surrounding the ethnic mobilization of indigenous grou ps are explored with reference to Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast region. T he Autonomy Project, promoted under the revolutionary government of th e 1980s, inspired new forms of regional multi-ethnic forms of mobiliza tion and, in so doing, eschewed nationalistic claims associated with t he resurgence of ethnicity elsewhere. The fate of the principle of eth nic autonomy is subsequently examined in the wake of the defeat of the Sandinistas in the elections held in 1990. Evidence suggests that dom estic political conditions as well as international political and econ omic pressure have been crucial in undermining the autonomy process. T his, in turn, has had important consequences for ethnic identity forma tion in the region, since a combination of pressure from international agencies, the United States government and multinational companies in conjunction with the UNO alliance have undermined educational and emp loyment as well as political initiatives built around old and new ethn ic groupings. Examples of bilingualism and initiatives to control and protect the region's resources are shown to have suffered directly as a result of the increased activity of multinationals, the privatizatio n programmes of the Chomorro government and efforts to bypass local po litical structures. A local radio station, which also played a role in promoting multi-ethnicity in the region, was similarly under threat. In conclusion, and drawing on wider debates, it is argued that Nicarag ua's Atlantic Coast provides an important example of the interpenetrat ion of local and global pressures in the development of ethnic politic s. The analysis of changes on the Atlantic Coast during the period of the revolution and after the defeat of the Sandinistas in 1990 allows us to assess their impact on changing forms of cultural and ethnic ide ntity in the region. The article argues that the scope for ethnic auto nomy, including new and empowering forms of regional multi-ethnic iden tity, is seen to be profoundly contingent on political circumstances w hich themselves cannot be considered independently of wider internatio nal and economic conditions.