Summary

Praise for the previous edition:
"...a good place to start for anyone doing general research on Peru...recommended for general and academic collections."—American Reference Books Annual 

In the seven years since the first edition was published, Peru has undergone significant changes that have had national and international consequences. A Brief History of Peru, Second Edition maintains the insightful narrative of the first edition and includes a history of the country—from its ancient peoples and the Inca Empire through the most recent political, social, and economic developments. This revised edition expands on the second half of Alejandro Toledo's presidency, including his handling of domestic terrorism from the guerrilla organization Shining Path; the unveiling of a plan to construct a road that would connect Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru by roughly 2020; and the creation of a National Commission of Culture planned to bring a group of intellectuals and artists together to elaborate a governmental plan for cultural policies. 

This new edition explores the 2006 reelection of former president Alan García, who returned to the presidential palace at the Plaza de Armas with promises to improve Peruvians' living conditions and balance economic stability with increased social spending. He has since worked to improve his country's status and strengthen foreign relationships, particularly with Chile and Brazil.

Coverage includes:

• The Andean mountains that created Peru's unique geography and demanded innovation and creativity from its first inhabitants
• The rise and fall of the Inca Empire, and Peru under Spanish colonization
• Peru's role in international narcotics trafficking with the emergence of its massive coca growing industry
• The country's struggles for independence and stability
• Agrarian reform and the effects of the Shining Path
• The 2008 European Union-Latin America and Caribbean summit and the 2008 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit
• The Truth Reconciliation Commission (TRC) efforts to unravel 20 years of violence in Peru's recent history
• The reelection of Alan García as president and his wave of neoliberalism.

Specifications

Black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Maps. Index. Bibliography. Suggested reading. Chronology. Basic facts. Sidebars.

About the Author(s)

Christine Hunefeldt, Ph.D., is a professor of history at the University of California in San Diego. She obtained a Ph.D. in history from the University of Bonn, Germany, and an M.A. in social anthropology from Cambridge University in England. She has authored numerous publications on Latin American history.