A Case for Disastrous Party Politics in Peru
Major
Political Science
Submission Type
Oral Presentation
Area of Study or Work
Political Science
Expected Graduation Date
2022
Location
CNS E105
Start Date
4-9-2022 8:30 AM
End Date
4-9-2022 9:30 AM
Abstract
The commemoration of 200 years of Peruvian independence brings the question if this Republic is really free and sovereign. Even though it is formally a democracy, it is weak and not yet consolidated. Satisfaction with democracy is low, and many analysts claim that it already died in the 1990s. Peruvian democracy is in danger because of the personalistic nature of the political parties. This study defends the argument that political parties in Peru are weak. Specifically, it focuses on the shift from traditional to proto-parties. Traditional parties failed in their political role, and new anti-elite and personalistic vehicles started to gain power in politics. The main hypothesis is that the parties are weak because they are not properly organized, and have been controlled by individuals seeking their own benefits. In this presentation, there is an exploration of the role and development of diverse parties in the various presidential elections from 1980 to 2021. Some variables used to measure the success and effectiveness of the parties are the number of votes during every election. There is also a close look at urbanization rates per party, as parties represent a wide variety of individuals, and it is crucial to make sure where the parties are getting their votes from. By knowing the success or failure of specific parties, their presence or absence in sociopolitical scenarios, their demographic focus, their presidential journey through the years, and their current situation, this research shows that Peruvian parties are weak and in need of reform.
A Case for Disastrous Party Politics in Peru
CNS E105
The commemoration of 200 years of Peruvian independence brings the question if this Republic is really free and sovereign. Even though it is formally a democracy, it is weak and not yet consolidated. Satisfaction with democracy is low, and many analysts claim that it already died in the 1990s. Peruvian democracy is in danger because of the personalistic nature of the political parties. This study defends the argument that political parties in Peru are weak. Specifically, it focuses on the shift from traditional to proto-parties. Traditional parties failed in their political role, and new anti-elite and personalistic vehicles started to gain power in politics. The main hypothesis is that the parties are weak because they are not properly organized, and have been controlled by individuals seeking their own benefits. In this presentation, there is an exploration of the role and development of diverse parties in the various presidential elections from 1980 to 2021. Some variables used to measure the success and effectiveness of the parties are the number of votes during every election. There is also a close look at urbanization rates per party, as parties represent a wide variety of individuals, and it is crucial to make sure where the parties are getting their votes from. By knowing the success or failure of specific parties, their presence or absence in sociopolitical scenarios, their demographic focus, their presidential journey through the years, and their current situation, this research shows that Peruvian parties are weak and in need of reform.