How Democratic is Democracy? A History of Political Corruption in Peru

Authors

Kaitlyn Selzler, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow

Abstract

With the emergence of revisionist scholarship beginning in the 1960’s and 1970’s, scholars have taken terms which had absolute definitions, such as totalitarianism or democracy, and introduced different perspectives and methods which questioned the absolute authority of historical terminology. As a case study into these new historical methodologies, this essay seeks to answer the question: How democratic is Peru’s democracy? To answer this question, this research explores the deep seeded corruption in Latin America, specifically Peru, beginning in 1985 with the election of Alan Garcia, continuing through the presidency of Alberto Fujimori, and eventually ending with the current state of political affairs in Peru. This essay will highlight some of the significant events of the 1980’s and 90’s which led to the political corruption, economic crisis, and social unrest that continues to plague Peru today. Though this is a micro-study of the country of Peru, similar themes can be seen across Latin America, so elements and problems discussed in this study could be applied to the continent as a whole.

Recommended Citation

Selzler, Kaitlyn (2021) "How Democratic is Democracy? A History of Political Corruption in Peru," Graduate Review: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 16.
Available at: https://openspaces.unk.edu/grad-review/vol1/iss1/16