Communism in Peru
Encyclopedia
Several different left
-oriented organizations refer to themselves as the Communist Party of Peru (in Spanish
: Partido Comunista del Perú) or similar names. Some are still active, others have disappeared and some joined the ranks of Shining Path
or the MRTA
, which participated in the internal conflict in Peru
. Many of the parties are known by nicknames relating to their respective newspapers.
According to Broadleft.org, the oldest communist party
in Peru
is the Partido Comunista Peruano
(PCP - Unidad), founded in 1928, by José Carlos Mariátegui
, under the name Partido Socialista del Perú. In 1930 the name was changed to PCP. PCP is often identified as PCP [Unidad], to separate it from other parties with similar names. Jorge Del Prado was the general secretary between 1966 and 1991. The main political base of PCP-Unidad is currently located at Plaza Ramón Castilla, Lima
and is led by Renán Raffo Muñoz. PCP publishes Unidad ("Unity") and Nuestra Bandera ("Our Banner").
Another party that also considers itself the Communist Party of Peru is the Partido Comunista del Perú - Patria Roja
, founded in 1970, and now, as of 2006, headed by Alberto Moreno
. It descends from the mainstream fraction of PCP-Bandera Roja, which, in turn, originated as a Maoist
fraction within the Partido Comunista Peruano.
Both PCP-Bandera Roja and PCP-Unidad are named after their traditional press organs. The name "PCP-Unidad" is an informal designation; the official name of the PCP-Unidad is simply "Partido Comunista Peruano". There was a fraction called PCP-Mayoría around 1980: its members considered that PCP-Unidad had taken a Eurocommunist
turn, while - they themselves preferred a more hard-line Soviet
stance.
There are a few more groups that also consider themselves the Communist Party of Peru. The best known is the group generally referred to as the "Shining Path
" (a name which the group itself does not use). This armed group, regarded by Peru as a terrorist
organization, is an offshoot of PCP-Bandera Roja, having splintered from it in the early 1970s. The "Shining Path" considers PCP-Patria Roja and PCP-Unidad to be revisionist
; it has assassinated several of their militants and elected officials.
was founded with the name of Peruvian Socialist Party (Partido Socialista del Perú) by José Carlos Mariátegui
, it is considered the first Communist Party of Peru.
Some political parties that also claimed the name (or its true meaning):
The United Left
movement was a loose alliance of several of these leftist parties that gained a strong political presence in the 1980s.
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
-oriented organizations refer to themselves as the Communist Party of Peru (in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Partido Comunista del Perú) or similar names. Some are still active, others have disappeared and some joined the ranks of Shining Path
Shining Path
Shining Path is a Maoist guerrilla terrorist organization in Peru. The group never refers to itself as "Shining Path", and as several other Peruvian groups, prefers to be called the "Communist Party of Peru" or "PCP-SL" in short...
or the MRTA
Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement
The Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement was a Marxist revolutionary group active in Peru from the early 1980s to 1997 and one of the main actors in the internal conflict in Peru...
, which participated in the internal conflict in Peru
Internal conflict in Peru
It has been estimated that nearly 70,000 people died in the internal conflict in Peru that started in 1980 and, although still ongoing, had greatly wound down by 2000. The principal actors in the war were the Shining Path , the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement and the government of Peru.A great...
. Many of the parties are known by nicknames relating to their respective newspapers.
According to Broadleft.org, the oldest communist party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
is the Partido Comunista Peruano
Peruvian Communist Party
The Peruvian Communist Party is a communist party in Peru. It was founded in 1928 by José Carlos Mariátegui, under the name Partido Socialista del Perú . In 1930 the name was changed to PCP...
(PCP - Unidad), founded in 1928, by José Carlos Mariátegui
José Carlos Mariátegui
José Carlos Mariátegui La Chira was a Peruvian journalist, political philosopher, and activist. A prolific writer before his early death at age 35, he is considered one of the most influential Latin American socialists of the 20th century...
, under the name Partido Socialista del Perú. In 1930 the name was changed to PCP. PCP is often identified as PCP [Unidad], to separate it from other parties with similar names. Jorge Del Prado was the general secretary between 1966 and 1991. The main political base of PCP-Unidad is currently located at Plaza Ramón Castilla, Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
and is led by Renán Raffo Muñoz. PCP publishes Unidad ("Unity") and Nuestra Bandera ("Our Banner").
Another party that also considers itself the Communist Party of Peru is the Partido Comunista del Perú - Patria Roja
Communist Party of Peru - Red Fatherland
Communist Party of Peru - Red Fatherland is a political party in Peru founded in 1970, through a split in the Peruvian Communist Party - Red Flag. It is led by Alberto Moreno, Jorge Hurtado Pozo and Rolando Breña.In 1980 it participated in the general elections on the lists of UNIR...
, founded in 1970, and now, as of 2006, headed by Alberto Moreno
Alberto Moreno
Alberto Moreno Rojas del Río is a left-wing Peruvian politician. He is the general secretary of the Communist Party of Peru and the president of the Movimiento Nueva Izquierda - New Left Movement....
. It descends from the mainstream fraction of PCP-Bandera Roja, which, in turn, originated as a Maoist
Maoism
Maoism, also known as the Mao Zedong Thought , is claimed by Maoists as an anti-Revisionist form of Marxist communist theory, derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong . Developed during the 1950s and 1960s, it was widely applied as the political and military guiding...
fraction within the Partido Comunista Peruano.
Both PCP-Bandera Roja and PCP-Unidad are named after their traditional press organs. The name "PCP-Unidad" is an informal designation; the official name of the PCP-Unidad is simply "Partido Comunista Peruano". There was a fraction called PCP-Mayoría around 1980: its members considered that PCP-Unidad had taken a Eurocommunist
Eurocommunism
Eurocommunism was a trend in the 1970s and 1980s within various Western European communist parties to develop a theory and practice of social transformation that was more relevant in a Western European democracy and less aligned to the influence or control of the Communist Party of the Soviet...
turn, while - they themselves preferred a more hard-line Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
stance.
There are a few more groups that also consider themselves the Communist Party of Peru. The best known is the group generally referred to as the "Shining Path
Shining Path
Shining Path is a Maoist guerrilla terrorist organization in Peru. The group never refers to itself as "Shining Path", and as several other Peruvian groups, prefers to be called the "Communist Party of Peru" or "PCP-SL" in short...
" (a name which the group itself does not use). This armed group, regarded by Peru as a terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
organization, is an offshoot of PCP-Bandera Roja, having splintered from it in the early 1970s. The "Shining Path" considers PCP-Patria Roja and PCP-Unidad to be revisionist
Revisionism (Marxism)
Within the Marxist movement, the word revisionism is used to refer to various ideas, principles and theories that are based on a significant revision of fundamental Marxist premises. The term is most often used by those Marxists who believe that such revisions are unwarranted and represent a...
; it has assassinated several of their militants and elected officials.
Political parties that have used the name
The Peruvian Communist PartyPeruvian Communist Party
The Peruvian Communist Party is a communist party in Peru. It was founded in 1928 by José Carlos Mariátegui, under the name Partido Socialista del Perú . In 1930 the name was changed to PCP...
was founded with the name of Peruvian Socialist Party (Partido Socialista del Perú) by José Carlos Mariátegui
José Carlos Mariátegui
José Carlos Mariátegui La Chira was a Peruvian journalist, political philosopher, and activist. A prolific writer before his early death at age 35, he is considered one of the most influential Latin American socialists of the 20th century...
, it is considered the first Communist Party of Peru.
Some political parties that also claimed the name (or its true meaning):
- Communist Party - Red StarCommunist Party - Red StarCommunist Party - Red Star was a splinter group of the Peruvian Communist Party that appeared in the beginnings of the 1970s in Peru...
- Communist Party of Peru - Red FatherlandCommunist Party of Peru - Red FatherlandCommunist Party of Peru - Red Fatherland is a political party in Peru founded in 1970, through a split in the Peruvian Communist Party - Red Flag. It is led by Alberto Moreno, Jorge Hurtado Pozo and Rolando Breña.In 1980 it participated in the general elections on the lists of UNIR...
- Communist Party of Peru (Marxist-Leninist)Communist Party of Peru (Marxist-Leninist)The Communist Party of Peru is a communist political party in Peru. PCdelP was founded in 2001 by a group that split from the Communist Party of Peru in 1999.PCdelP publishes Bandera Proletaria and Cuadernos Polémicos....
- Peruvian Communist Party - Red Flag
- Revolutionary Communist Party - Red TrenchRevolutionary Communist Party - Red TrenchRevolutionary Communist Party - Red Trench was a communist party in Peru. PCR-TR was formed in 1977, through a split in the PCR...
- Proletarian Party of PeruProletarian Party of PeruProletarian Party of Peru , is a communist party in Peru. Its general secretary is Illipa Tuta....
- Revolutionary Communist Party (Working Class)Revolutionary Communist Party (Working Class)The Revolutionary Communist Party was a Maoist communist political party in Peru in the 1970s. Founded as a split faction from Vanguardia Revolucionaria-Político Militar, it was led by Manuel Dammert Ego-Aguirre and Ernie de la Jara y Basombrío.- References :...
- Revolutionary Socialist Party (Marxist-Leninist)Revolutionary Socialist Party (marxist-leninist)Revolutionary Socialist Party was a political party in Peru founded in 1978 through a split in the Revolutionary Socialist Party. Its leaders included Antonio Aragón, Carlos Urrutia and Andrés Avelino Mar...
- Revolutionary Vanguard (Communist Proletarian)Revolutionary Vanguard (Communist Proletarian)Revolutionary Vanguard was a Maoist-oriented political party in Peru founded in 1977 by Eduardo Figari and Julio César Mezzich. It formed through a split in Revolutionary Vanguard.Later VR dissolved, and a section of it was incorporated into the Shining Path....
- Revolutionary Workers' Party (Peru)
- Worker Peasant Student and Popular FrontWorker Peasant Student and Popular FrontThe Worker Peasant Student and Popular Front or FOCEP is a political party in Peru. It was founded as a broad front in 1977 by a group around Genaro Ledesma Izquieta, Socialist Workers Party, Peruvian Communist Party and Revolutionary Marxist Workers Party. FOCEP participated in the elections in...
- Workers Revolutionary Party (Peru)Workers Revolutionary Party (Peru)Workers' Revolutionary Party is a trotskyist political party in Peru founded in 1978 by a fraction of PST, FIR and FIR. Its founding leaders included Hugo Blanco, Hipólito Enríquez, Raúl Castro Vera and Nicolás Lucar...
- Peru WinsPeru WinsPeru Wins is a left-wing political party in Peru formed as an alliance for the general election, 2011, dominated by the Peruvian Nationalist Party and led by presidential candidate Ollanta Humala.- Constituent Parties :...
The United Left
United Left (Peru)
United Left was an alliance of leftist political parties in Peru founded in 1980 by Popular Democratic Unity , Revolutionary Left Union , Peruvian Communist Party , Revolutionary Socialist Party , Revolutionary Communist Party and FOCEP.In 1984 UDP and a part of PCR converted itself into the...
movement was a loose alliance of several of these leftist parties that gained a strong political presence in the 1980s.