While it may appear that the United States and Peru share little more than a hemisphere, Lawrence A. Clayton reveals a long history of interactions between the two countries. In tracking their relations since the early nineteenth century, he tells how each influenced the other and addresses not only political and economic issues but also the social and cultural factors that helped shape relations. Taking a long historical view, Clayton tells of major players like railroad entrepreneur Henry Meiggs and industrialist William Grace; of the role of American firms like Cerro de Pasco and International Petroleum; and of the height of American influence in the 1920s under the leadership of Peruvian president Augusto B. Leguía. In addition, he describes how the War of the Pacific with Chile affected Peru's march toward modernization, and assesses the legacy of the Peruvian Institutional Revolution of 1968. He also covers such contemporary topics as the cocaine trade, the Shining Path guerrilla movement, and President Alberto Fujimori's economic programs, helping readers realize the depth—and future—of Peruvian-U.S. relations.
"Badly needed updated history of Peruvian-US relations from the series edited by Lester Langley on Latin American-US relations. Traces evolution of diplomatic, military and economic relations between the two nations from independence to late in second term of Fujimori presidency. Emphasizes dominant economic impact of such corporate giants as Cerro de Pasco, Grace, and the International Petroleum Company. Especially interesting and innovative sections of the study are discussions of 'company towns,' the Cornell University Vicos agrarian project (begun in the early 1950s), and the folksy critique of the Fujimori government's drug policy. Offers a highly useful bibliographical essay that will be helpful to both specialist and student alike, in which pertinent web sites are included. Well-suited for classroom use"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.
| Acknowledgments | ||
| Introduction | 1 | |
| 1 | Getting to Know You | 15 |
| 2 | The War of the Pacific | 51 |
| 3 | The Ascendant American Eagle | 74 |
| 4 | The Leguia Years | 104 |
| 5 | The Good Neighbor | 142 |
| 6 | The Early Cold War Period | 169 |
| 7 | The Peruvian Institutional Revolution of 1968 | 208 |
| 8 | Contemporary Times | 251 |
| Conclusion | 309 | |
| Notes | 315 | |
| Bibliographical Essay | 345 | |
| Index | 351 |
Anonymous
Posted February 23, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
While it may appear that the United States and Peru share little more than a hemisphere, Lawrence A. Clayton reveals a long history of interactions between the two countries. In tracking their relations since the early nineteenth century, he tells how each influenced the other and addresses not only political and economic issues but also the social and cultural factors that helped shape relations. Taking a long historical view, Clayton tells of major players like railroad entrepreneur Henry Meiggs and ...