Study Notes on "Quien Habla es Terrorista"

Introduction to the Political Use of Fear in Fujimori's Peru

  • Author: Jo-Marie Burt

  • Published in Latin American Research Review, Volume 41, Number 3, 2006, pp. 32-62

  • DOI: 10.1353/lar.2006.0036

  • Accessed from Colgate University.

Abstract

  • This article analyzes the politics of fear during Alberto Fujimori’s regime in Peru.

  • Main argument: Popularity and support for Fujimori are partial views of his authority, emphasizing the use of coercion through fear to create a facade of control.

  • Historical context: Insecurity rooted in economic crises and political violence of the 1980s and 1990s.

  • The regime manipulated fear to strengthen authoritarian rule while undermining civil society.

Key Themes

Politics of Fear

  • Gramscian Conceptualization of Power: Power involves both coercion and consent.

  • Coercion Achieving Consensus: Fear enables authoritarian regimes to maintain control by repressing resistance.

  • Manipulation of Fear: Fujimori’s administration created an atmosphere where dissent was suppressed, leading to civil disorganization.

Historical Context

  • Economic crisis of the 1980s exacerbated by neoliberal reforms.

  • Fujimori's regime used fear tactics in the wake of terrorism and violence to achieve political stability.

Social Mobilization

  • On July 27, 2000, protests erupted against Fujimori’s third term, claiming illegitimacy of the electoral process.

  • Diverse social classes participated, indicating a resurgence of civil society activism after a decade of repression.

  • Protests contrasted with earlier years when civil society was largely subdued.

Underlying Factors for Civil Society Weakness

  • Traditional explanations suggest civil opposition weakness; however, this overlooks the state's role in suppressing dissent.

  • Economic struggles contributed to demobilization, while political factors also weakened the ability to organize effectively.

  • Use of state power to intimidate and control societal organization.

Mechanisms of Control

Patronage

  • Widespread patronage was a common tactic, but more significant was the instrumentalization of fear.

  • The regime’s fear strategies kept populations fragmented and disorganized, lacking cohesive opposition.

Discourse of Fear

  • Culture of Fear: Transitioning from generalized fear of violence to specific fears involving targeted actions against dissent.

  • State power employed as a tool of horror, equating opponents of the regime with terrorism, thus criminalizing dissent.

Political Violence of the 1980s

  • Report from the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR) noted about 68,000 deaths due to political violence from 1980-2000.

  • Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) and state forces were both significant agents of violence.

  • Community activists faced terror both from insurgent forces and state-sponsored violence.

Demobilization Techniques

Use of Violence

  • Political violence reduced the public square, rendering many activists silent.

  • Fear of State Repression: Concerns about retaliatory actions discouraged public opposition.

  • Community leaders referred to fears associated with both Sendero and state violence.

Legal Repression

  • Anti-terrorism laws facilitated the criminalization of legitimate protest, leading to thousands of wrongful imprisonments.

  • Highlighted issues, such as unlawful detention without trial, created a chilling atmosphere for activism.

The Role of Media

  • The regime controlled a significant portion of media to shape narratives about terrorism and dissent, further entrenching fear within society.

  • Opposition figures were often framed as terrorists in state-sponsored broadcasts, preventing the spread of dissenting opinions.

Conclusion and Civil Society Resurgence

  • Protests during the 2000 elections catalyzed a resurgence of civil society, unifying disparate groups in opposition to Fujimori’s authoritarian methods.

  • New understandings of democratic processes began to emerge, challenging the regime’s legitimacy.

  • Importance of fostering democratic structures and institutions to prevent future authoritarian abuses in Peru.

Bibliography

  • The article concludes with an extensive bibliography documenting sources that informed the research, including works on political violence, human rights, and societal responses in contexts of fear within Peru.