This book contributes substantially to our understanding of peasant political participation in state formation in Latin America. Cecilia Méndez studies a period marked by war, from the conflicts between monarchist and patriot militias (1810 – 30) to the decades of harsh confrontation between liberal and conservative caudillos over the definition of the character of the republican state (1830 – 50). It provides a detailed account of the impact of war in Huanta, a region at the crossroads of important commercial networks, where haciendas were gradually losing ground to growing peasant control over commercial agriculture and the coca-leaf economy.
Méndez adds to recent scholarship that sees war as a factor that opens up opportunities for subordinated actors to engage in politics, that fosters organization, and that renews popular leadership. War, she shows, is embedded in existing social networks, while also leading to substantial innovations. To uphold her thesis, Méndez presents historical...
