In this essay the author seeks to examine political development in Peru since the late 1980's, especially since Alberto Fujimori's election as the president of Peru. It focuses on the breakdown of the Peruvian political party system (its existence and the political parties' roles), as well as the most critical problems in the last few years: hyperinflation and terrorism. Finally, it discusses the conditions under which the party system might be revived.

The article examines the populist tradition in Peru's political development over the last fifty years, seeking to draw attention to some of the continuities in the political practice of successive regimes, albeit ones of different ideological orientations. In so doing, it seeks to define 'populism' as a style of government which links the rulers with the ruled bypassing representative systems of political mediation.   Whilst typically populism emerges at moment of economic and political crisis, when representative institutions fail lo provide solutions lo popular demands, it also reflects the longstanding weakness of such institutions in Peru this century. Despite the very different orientation of their economic policies, the political methods of the Garcia and Fujimori governments have more in common than is often believed. These continuities reflect, in part, the chasm dividing the st...

More than most Latin American countries in recent times, Peru has seen party voting strength, organisation and loyalties eroded. Since the Fujimori period, however – when parties found themselves under systematic attack – the return to more normal electoral activity has opened up a space for parties to reemerge. The 2003 Law on Political Parties was designed to strengthen a pluralistic party system. However, the results proved disappointing. Three rounds of elections in 2006 did little to restore voter confidence in Peru's major parties; these remain 'top-down' affairs with only shallow roots in society. However, the November 2006 local elections suggested that new forces may be emerging at the meso- level of politics in tandem with social movements. Study of Peruvian politics requires its own decentralisation.

Páginas 359-386

La consolidación democrática de un país depende de la calidad de sus instituciones. Eso suena a lugar común. Pero lo que en realidad importa es cómo definimos estas instituciones; cómo las instituciones formales se relacionan con las informales, con las prácticas cotidianas de la gente, con la cultura política. Las instituciones sí son relevantes, pero lo fundamental es su relación con las dinámicas políticas y sociales subyacentes que quieren cambiar. Al analizar la naturaleza del desarrollo institucional en el Perú de los últimos años, este libro destaca la necesidad de una visión de largo plazo que tome en cuenta plenamente el contexto histórico en el que las instituciones puedan crecer. En el último cuarto de siglo no ha faltado intentos de construir nuevas instituciones democráticas, pero los logros duraderos -que sí lo hay- han sido decepcionantes. Las bases par...

In this essay the author seeks to examine political development in Peru since the late 1980's, especially since Alberto Fujimori's election as the president of Peru. It focuses on the breakdown of the Peruvian political party system (its existence and the political parties' roles), as well as the most critical problems in the last few years: hyperinflation and terrorism. Finally, it discusses the conditions under which the party system might be revived.

Aborda las instituciones y debilidades institucionales en el Perú. La primera parte contiene tres capítulos relacionados principalmente con las instituciones políticas. En el primero de ellos, John Crabtree aborda el tópico de los partidos políticos y la intermediación, con la intención de explicar algunas de las dificultades que implica el establecimiento de instituciones representativas sólidas. En el segundo, Carlos Monge se concentra en la descentralización y dificultades de cambio en el sistema centralizado de decisión que evolucionó en el Perú. En el tercero, Fernando Rospigliosi se refiere a los obstáculos encontrados en el curso de la reforma del aparato de seguridad, a los militares, a la política y a los servicios de inteligencia. La siguiente sección saca a colación temas de pobreza, desigualdad y tendencias dentro de la sociedad agraria. Pedro Francke observa ...

Esta obra sobre el poder en el Perú que rastrea sus raíces históricas y analiza sus características contemporáneas, compleja tarea, es producto de un esfuerzo colaborativo de John Crabtree (University of Oxford, Centre for Latin American Studies) y Francisco Durand (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Ciencia Política y Gobierno). Los capítulos tienen como antecedentes investigaciones de los autores sobre la política y la sociedad peruana, a partir de los cuales desarrollan un diálogo conjunto para armar un libro cohesionado y al mismo tiempo asequible y profundo, capaz de identificar las raíces y las principales consecuencias de los grandes problemas nacionales.

The article examines the populist tradition in Peru's political development over the last fifty years, seeking to draw attention to some of the continuities in the political practice of successive regimes, albeit ones of different ideological orientations. In so doing, it seeks to define 'populism' as a style of government which links the rulers with the ruled bypassing representative systems of political mediation. Whilst typically populism emerges at moment of economic and political crisis, when representative institutions fail lo provide solutions lo popular demands, it also reflects the longstanding weakness of such institutions in Peru this century. Despite the very different orientation of their economic policies, the political methods of the Garcia and Fujimori governments have more in common than is often believed. These continuities reflect, in part, the chasm dividing the state...

Estudio sobre el desarrollo económico del Perú durante el gobierno de Alberto Fujimori. Inician con un panorama sobre la estrategia económica, el neopopulismo y el fenómeno Fujimori; continúan con temas sobre la liberalización económica y su impacto; la distribución, ingresos, pobreza, empleo y mercado laboral; el gobierno y las instituciones: reforma judicial, fuerzas armadas, reforma tributaria; y concluyen con temas sobre la política y la sociedad.

More than most Latin American countries in recent times, Peru has seen party voting strength, organisation and loyalties eroded. Since the Fujimori period, however – when parties found themselves under systematic attack – the return to more normal electoral activity has opened up a space for parties to reemerge. The 2003 Law on Political Parties was designed to strengthen a pluralistic party system. However, the results proved disappointing. Three rounds of elections in 2006 did little to restore voter confidence in Peru's major parties; these remain 'top-down' affairs with only shallow roots in society. However, the November 2006 local elections suggested that new forces may be emerging at the meso- level of politics in tandem with social movements. Study of Peruvian politics requires its own decentralisation.