A transition to sustainable development: Empowerment and disempowerment in a Nicaraguan community

At the turn of the century, it has become clear that humankind has gone many of the natural limits of the planet and that the way forward must tread a path towards sustainability. This thesis takes the case of the community of El Arenal, Nicaragua, in order to answer the basic question: how can an impoverished community in a developing nation make the transition to sustainable development?; The results of the research have shown that if development is to be sustainable, people must be empowered in order to participate in the making of decisions that affect the economic, social and environmental situation within their communities. Such empowerment is dependent not only on external factors, such as the satisfaction of basic needs and access to political spaces, but is a result of internal components as well -- hope, determination and a sense of community identity and solidarity.