The Military and Shining Path Facing the Peruvian Democratic System

Since July 1980, Peru has lived six years of constitutionally democratic life, an unusual phenomenon in our existence as a country during this century and much of the last. The historical trajectory of our regime already announces the frequency and extent of democratic interruptions, which constitutes an interesting phenomenon for analysis. At the same time, it must be said that the current constitutional period suffers blows as a result of the phenomenon of terrorist insurgency and the consequent counter-subversive policy. It is from this complex and variegated set of phenomena, with political actors presenting diverse ways of acting and thinking, that—beginning in 1930 and naturally in general terms—we aim to give an account in the present note. Our emphasis is placed on the role of the Armed Forces and that of the current subversive force: Sendero Luminoso.