The Shining Path of Peru

(Sendero)

• 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

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

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)

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 1985new IMF loan

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

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 repaymentscredit 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

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

election25% 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

The Shining Path

• 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

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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

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

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