Land without masters : agrarian reform and political change under Peru's military government

In 1969, Juan Velasco Alvarado’s military government began an ambitious land reform program in Peru, transferring holdings from large estates to peasant cooperatives. Fifty years later this reform remains controversial: critics claim it unjustly expropriated land and ruined the Peruvian economy, while supporters emphasize its success in addressing rural inequality and exploitation. Moving beyond agricultural policy to offer a fresh perspective on the agrarian reform, __Land without Masters__ shows how ideological assumptions and state interventions surrounding the reform transformed Peru’s political culture and social fabric. Drawing on fieldwork in three different regions, Anna Cant shows how the government adapted its discourse and interventions to the local context while using the reform as a platform for nation-building. This comparative approach reveals how local actors shaped the regional impact of the agrarian reform and highlights the new forms of agency that emerged, including that of marginalized peasants who helped forge a new social, cultural, and political landscape. Making novel use of both visual and cultural sources, this book is a fascinating look at how the agrarian reform process permanently altered the relationship between rural citizens and the national government—and how it continues to resonate in Peruvian politics today. ''In 1969, Juan Velasco Alvarado’s military government began an ambitious land reform program in Peru, transferring holdings from large estates to peasant cooperatives. Fifty years later this reform remains controversial: critics claim it unjustly expropriated land and ruined the Peruvian economy, while supporters emphasize its success in addressing rural inequality and exploitation. Moving beyond agricultural policy to offer a fresh perspective on the agrarian reform, Land without Masters shows how ideological assumptions and state interventions surrounding the reform transformed Peru’s political culture and social fabric. Drawing on fieldwork in three different regions, Anna Cant shows how the government adapted its discourse and interventions to the local context while using the reform as a platform for nation-building. This comparative approach reveals how local actors shaped the regional impact of the agrarian reform and highlights the new forms of agency that emerged, including that of marginalized peasants who helped forge a new social, cultural, and political landscape. Making novel use of both visual and cultural sources, this book is a fascinating look at how the agrarian reform process permanently altered the relationship between rural citizens and the national government—and how it continues to resonate in Peruvian politics today.''-- Site de l'éditeur In 1969, Juan Velasco Alvarado's military government began an ambitious land-reform program in Peru, transferring holdings from large estates to peasant cooperatives. Fifty years later, these reforms remain controversial: conservative critics claim they unjustly expropriated land and ruined the Peruvian economy, while supporters emphasize their success in addressing rural inequality and exploitation. Moving beyond agricultural policy to offer a fresh perspective on the agrarian reform, Land without Masters shows how ideological assumptions and state interventions surrounding the reform transformed Peru's political culture and social fabric. Drawing on fieldwork in three different regions, Anna Cant demonstrates the importance of comparing the impact of the reform on those who were targeted by it with its success or failure nationwide. Through this innovative approach, she highlights the new forms of agency that emerged, including that of marginalized peasants who helped forge a new social, cultural, and political landscape. Making novel use of both visual and cultural sources, this book is a fascinating look at how the agrarian reform process permanently altered the relationship between rural citizens and the national government--and how it continues to resonate in Peruvian politics today. "Cant studies how agrarian reform under the military dictatorship of Juan Velasco Alvarado altered the relationship between the once-distant rural citizens and the national government; she argues that agrarian reform extended the state's presence in rural domains, not least through its overhaul of the education system and its interventions in the news media"-- Provided by publisher Introduction -- The history of the land question in Peru -- SINAMOS: promoting the revolution in the regions -- Education for social change: the making of the campesino citizen -- The agrarian reform in public discourse -- The agrarian reform in historical memory -- Conclusion