The Fujimori Legacy
The Rise of Electoral Authoritarianism in Peru
376 pages | 6 x 9 | 2006
ISBN 978-0-271-02747-0 | cloth: $97.95 sh
ISBN 978-0-271-02748-7 | paper: $31.95 sh
"The launch of the electoral campaign and the arrival of Peru’sex-president Alberto Fujimori to neighboring Chile offers us theopportunity to reflect on the legacy of Fujimori’s 10-yearadministration. This is precisely the title of a book about to bepublished in the United States: The Fujimori Legacy, anexhaustive and entertaining analysis of the Fujimori years that focusesas much on the economic and political aspects of his presidency asthe sociological and cultural. The thirteen authors, all from universitiesin the United State and Canada, know Peru well and have ample experience,primarily academic, with our country."—Pedro Pablo Kucynski,Peruvian Prime Minister
“The Fujimori Legacy brings together a collection of insightful essays, which collectively document the steady rise of autocratic rule in Peru following the 1992 autogolpe and the ineffectiveness of oppositional actors and institutions in neutralizing this transition. By discussing the role of public opinion, the absence of political parties, state reform, military backing, corruption, and media collusion, among other things, the book sheds new light on the complex and contradictory dynamics of Fujimorismo. This book makes an important contribution to the scholarly understanding of authoritarianism in an era of widespread democratization.”—MoisésArce, Lousiana State University
President Alberto Fujimori’s sudden resignation in November2000 brought an end to a highly controversial period in Peruvianhistory. His meteoric rise to power in 1990 fueled by widespreadpopular support, followed by his decision to dissolve Congressand rule by decree in 1992, has made his regime a focus of specialattention by scholars trying to understand this complex and contradictory presidency.
This book offers a comprehensive assessment of Fujimori’s regime in the context of Latin America’s struggle to consolidate democracy after years of authoritarian rule. Setting the regime conceptually in a discussion of alternative forms of government—delegative democracy, neopopulism, and electoral authoritarianism—the essays study it from two different perspectives: external (in its relations with political parties, Lima’s mayors, public opinion, women, the U.S. government) and internal (examining economic policies as determined by governing coalitions, networks of corruption, and Fujimori’s unsavory relationship with his security advisor Vladimiro Montesinos). Overall, The Fujimori Legacy helps illuminate the persistent obstacles that Latin American countries face inestablishing democracy
In addition to the editor, contributors areRobert Barr, Maxwell Cameron, Catherine Conaghan, Henry Dietz,Philip Mauceri, Cynthia McClintock, David Scott Palmer, Kenneth Roberts, Gregory Schmidt, John Sheahan, Kurt Weyland, and Carol Wise.
Julio F. Carrión is Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Delaware.