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The Shining Path of Peru

The Shining Path of Peru . ( Sendero ). To fully appropriate the Sendero phenomenon it is necessary to understand the larger historical context of Peru

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The Shining Path of Peru

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  1. The Shining Path of Peru (Sendero)

  2. To fully appropriate the Sendero phenomenon it is necessary to understand the larger historical context of Peru • Key among the factors shaping the political culture of Peru is the almost 300 years of Spanish colonial rule-->Peru did not break with colonial past until 1824 • The main elements of Spanish control were authoritarian political institutions and mercantilist economic institutions-->First civilian president elected in 1872 & Britain replaces Spain as key source of capital and investment

  3.  1879-1883: The War of the Pacific  • Chile gains coastal territory from Peru (nitrate deposits) Peru left bankrupt-->ever more dependent on Britain (Britain encouraged weak state and emphasis on FDI) • Large percentage of population not integrated into cultural, political or economic life-->Constitution of 1979 gives illiterates--predominantly Indian--the right to vote

  4. Political history can be divided into the following periods: • 1. Consolidation (1824-1895) • 2. Limited civilian democracy (1895-1919) • 3. Populist and mass parties (1919-1968) • 4. Reformist military rule (1968-1980) • 5. Fully participatory formal democracy (1980-1992) • 6. Authoritarian democratic combination (1992-2000) • 7. Fully participatory formal democracy (2001-Present)

  5. The Civilian Docenio (1980-1992) • AP and PPC form a coalition-->Belaunde heads government • Inflation increased from 60% in 1980 to 100% by 1984 • GDP declined by 10% in 1983 • World market prices for Peruvian commodities remained low throughout the early 1980s • Foreign debt rises from $8.4 billion in 1980 to $13 billion in 1985new IMF loan 

  6. Growing Violence • Growing violence associated with Shining Path (launched "people's war" in May of 1980  • Originally based in Ayacucho Headed by professors and students at University of Humanga  • Marxist-Leninist-->Mao and Carlos Mariategui (leading Peruvian intellectual 1920s)  • Government slow to respond (3 years) • By 1985 6,000 people dead  • 1,700 "disappeared" in 1983-84 alone

  7. Crisis • By 1985 Belaunde government is weak • Marxist United Left Part wins 23% of the national vote, APRA (populist and center-right) wins-->Alan Garcia heads the government (1st time in 40 years civilian president hands over paper to an elected successor  • Garcia suspends all foreign debt repaymentscredit dries up. Inflation rises to 1,722% in 1988, 2,600% in 1989, 7,650% in 1990  • Economy shrinks by 20% from 1988-1990  • 20,000 causalities and $14 billion in damages during under the Garcia government 

  8. Election of 1990 • National Agrarian University rector Alberto Fujimori  enters the race (viewed as the outsider) beats Vargas Llosa • Shining Path kills over 100 candidates in the run up to the election25% of provisional/district councils cannot carry out the election  • Fujimori argues that economy must be set straight first-->Shock Therapy--> policies to curb inflation push poverty rate to 70%  • Favorable opinion remains high   • By 1992 inflation is reduced sharply (134% in 1991)  • Military having some success with Shining Path   • Fujimori calls for "temporary suspension" of democracy in Peru • Congress dissolved  Shining Path expands violent activities

  9. The Shining Path

  10. The SP was ideological (Maoism)--> 19 semi-feudal revolution, violence as a strategy and experience, one truth, (Chinese Cultural Revolution is an inspiration) • Origins based in Ayacucho: poor, isolated, indigenous   • Movement largely made up of the first generation top attend the university • Top down, authoritarian vision: local unions and civil society groups seen as the enemy

  11. Failure of the political center in Peru • The rise of the SP is a function of the failure of the political center in Peru • Reformist governments carry out land reform but refuse to bring indigenous communities into positions of leadership •  Students grew frustrated by their perceived inability to use education to improve social/economic conditions • Nearly impossible to separate coca production from guerrilla problem (65 of all coca leaf used in cocaine manufacture is in Upper Huallaga Valley)  •  U.S. War on Drugs pushes farmers into hands of SP

  12. SP Actions • Early actions include: killing local elected leaders, cheating husbands, cattle thieves, wealthy shopkeepers, and the establishment of communal farming programs  •  SP realizes they cannot win unless they gain support from urban labor • Lima becomes site of increased activity after 1983   • Urban activity: kill key political figures, organize strikes, fund soup kitchens, discredit existing social service organizations, land invasions, industrial terrorism, cut off water, electricity and food to Lima 

  13. Enter Fujimori • Fujimori steps up assault on SP • Close links to right-wing paramilitary groups throughout term—legalized self-defense squads and Army supplies them with shotguns • Charged with "disappearance" of 67 university students • Villages deemed supportive of the SP wiped out • Human Rights Watch 69,280 people killed by government or government supported forces  

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