Modern Peru

“‘When did Peru screw up?,’ famously asked Zavalita in Mario Vargas Llosa’s classic Conversation in the Cathedral (1969). As this volume shows, there are many possible answers to that burning question: economic crises, foreign and internal wars, military dictatorships, and more. Yet, Peruvian peoples showed resilience and hope in the face of adversity. Written by a stellar group of scholars, this book offers invaluable clues to decipher the fascinating but frequently dreadful history of modern Peru.” - Carlos Aguirre, University of Oregon

“Two hundred years since Independence, Peru continues its struggle to define itself, as it continues to be split by geography and thought. Paulo Drinot and Alberto Vergara bring together a prominent grouping of historians and social scientists who track Peru from the late colonial period to the present day. They offer rich insights into Peru at different historical periods as well as from distinct methodological approaches in their attempt to answer ‘what country is this?’ This volume will enrich teaching and anyone who wishes to learn more about Peru’s historical and political context.” - Cynthia E. Milton, author of Conflicted Memory: Military Cultural Interventions and the Human Rights Era in Peru

"These authors provide an accessible history written for an audience beyond academia that will be of value to readers new to Peru who are seeking an introduction to its political, social and economic development." - Gavin O'Toole, Latin American Review of Books

"A useful overview of a fascinating and frustrating country." - Michael Reid, Times Literary Supplment

"[A] welcome addition to the literature on the history of this country, especially given how relatively little has been written about it. It offers a more current, updated take on what has led to where and how Peru finds itself today, and is packed with illuminating information and reflection on both its past and present." - Arthur Ivan Bravo, ReVista

"While the focus of each chapter is unique to its author, they are all quite strong. The period 1992–2021 will be of most interest to Latin American social scientists and will greatly assist non-native scholars conducting research in Peru, providing a quite useful background against which to engage research. Each chapter has good footnotes and endnotes, which incorporate all references. This collection would be appropriate for upper-level undergraduates and all Latin American scholars. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty." - Choice

"Modern Peru constitutes a valuable contribution to current scholarship. . . . The book will be of considerable value to scholars and advanced students of Peruvian and Latin American history, as well as to readers interested more broadly in state formation, democratization, and the political consequences of resource-dependent development." - Iñigo García-Bryce, The Americas