Félix Maradiaga

Félix Maradiaga is a prominent figure in Latin America, renowned for his expertise in nonviolent resistance and democracy building. As a human rights advocate and thought leader in nonviolent resistance strategy, he is also widely recognized as one of the leading voices within the Nicaraguan democratic opposition.

Maradiaga currently serves as the President of the Foundation for the Freedom of Nicaragua. Additionally, he initiated the international campaign EndArbitraryDetention.org to raise awareness about the plight of political detainees across the globe. He is a trustee of Freedom House, one of America’s most prestigious organizations in the global promotion of freedom.

During the widespread protests against the Daniel Ortega regime in 2018, Maradiaga faced numerous criminal charges and smear campaigns. In July 2021, he was arbitrarily arrested after announcing his intention to run for president. He was subsequently imprisoned in a maximum-security facility, where he endured inhumane conditions for 21 months. However, in February 2023, he and 221 other political prisoners were expelled to the United States after the regime revoked their Nicaraguan nationality and confiscated their assets.

Beyond his activism, Maradiaga teaches the course “Democratic Ecosystems” at the University of Virginia and has also delivered lectures in more than 45 countries around the world.

In 2008, he was selected as a Yale World Fellow. Recognizing his courageous efforts, 25 international human rights organizations gathered in Geneva in 2023 to honor him with the Geneva Summit Courage Award. In 2024, Maradiaga was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, underscoring his significant contributions to the global struggle for democracy and human rights.

He is also the author or co-author of over nine books, including the Central American editions of Economic Freedom (2014 and 2016), and has written more than a hundred articles and essays focusing primarily on the decay of democracy in Latin America and the collaboration of autocratic regimes worldwide.

Maradiaga earned a Master in Public Administration (MPA) with honors from the Harvard Kennedy School. In 2023, he received the Magnitsky Human Rights Award in London. He holds a BA in Political Science (Summa Cum Laude) and pursued further graduate studies at the University of Barcelona (M.Eng).