Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Wurm, Sebastian Chávez

Titel

Arming the Revolution. The Shining Path and its Struggle for Resources (1980–1993)

Ist Teil von

• Jahrbuch für Geschichte Lateinamerikas, 2012-01, Vol.49 (1), p.261-284

Ort / Verlag

Böhlau Verlag GmbH & Co.KG

Erscheinungsjahr

2012

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

EZB Electronic Journals Library

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• For more than a decade the Peruvian guerrilla organization Sendero Luminoso had been considered one of the most powerful military groups in the recent history of Latin America. Through its growing presence in almost all parts of the country and its often spectacular military operations Sendero Luminoso not only seemed ubiqui­tous but, in the course of time, also an imposing threat to the Peruvian State. Until now only little is known about the mechanisms with which Sendero Luminoso mobi­lized the resources it needed most in order to pursue its fight: people, money, and armament. Taking a look inside the organization reveals surprising findings. Sendero Luminoso was a much weaker organization than most contemporary observers had believed. Only with great efforts it was able to mobilize its core resources. While it was successful in attracting and recruiting new party members to its files it failed to generate a strong and durable financial backbone. As a result its armament was poor. Thus, Sendero’s organizational reality resembled its public appearance only rudimentarily. However, Sendero Luminoso aptly adapted to the situation through adjusting its military tactics and securing organizational coherence. Furthermore it strongly benefited from the political and economic weakness the Peruvian State demonstrated throughout the conflict. That way Sendero Luminoso was able to create the credible public image of an organization of great military force.