The three volumes of this series are offset reproductions of papers produced by the Institute of Peruvian Studies in recent years. The Institute was founded initially by a group of Peruvian social scientists of the Social Progresista political party, with economic support from the Ministry of Education. To remain economically viable, as well as intellectually independent, some members of the Institute began a fruitful collaboration with counterparts at Cornell University. The papers included in these volumes are mostly those of Peruvian scholars, some supported by the Cornell program and some not, but also include some works of the Cornell group. The majority of the papers focus on Peru, but a number of them speak to social conditions in Latin America as a whole. Some of the authors (notably José Matos Mar, Julio Cotier, William Foote Whyte, Lawrence W. Williams) have published their findings in English, but the intention of the series is to make their work generally available throughout Latin America and to those in other countries interested in the area.
The studies included cover a number of topics ranging from theoretical statements which apply to the Third World in general to research findings on specific topics in rural villages in Peru. For example, hard data studies on psychological stress in situations of culture change, historical studies on the changing structures of haciendas in the highlands and on the sugar estates of the north coast, and urban studies which include the impact of rural-urban migration on rural areas, are all to be found in these three volumes. The peasant revolt in the Convención Valley, led by Hugo Blanco, is also analyzed, but the most common theme appears to be the economic and social structures which have not led to satisfactory rates of development.
Readers will find a number of important papers which represent not only the point of view of many Latin American scholars, but the orientation of Third World social scientists in general. During the past decade, a consensus has been developing in the Third World as to the nature of its problems and the range of possible solutions. Concepts growing in currency include such ideas as external dependence, internal domination, peripherality, and marginality.
Policy-makers, as well as intellectuals, in the developed countries must take seriously the analysis made by these Latin American scholars, because it is increasingly obvious that they are now exercising greater influence on both the foreign and domestic policies of their countries than ever before.
Re-examining their history has led these scholars to the conclusion that political independence from Europe in the early nineteenth century did little to bring about economic independence and development. They find that Latin America continued to be dominated by the market requirements of the powerful countries. As industry developed in their countries, it was owned by foreigners and designed to serve their needs rather than domestic needs. Much of the foreign capital brought in is not intended to develop domestic industry to meet domestic needs, but rather to meet export needs. Today, Latin Americans still find themselves caught on the periphery, unwilling accomplices in the power struggle between the United States and Russia, unable simply to withdraw and become independent. Heavy external dependence has distorted the national social structure by concentrating power in the hands of those best able and most willing to participate in and exploit these possibilities for their private advantage. This group, the famous “oligarchy,” has thus been able to establish internal domination over the rest of the society.
The authors of these papers seem to be in clear agreement on the linkages outlined above, and argue that autonomous national development cannot take place in a desirable direction at a satisfactory rate, until steps are taken to reduce both external dependence on foreigners and internal domination by those who benefit from the status quo. In short, radical social and economic change is urgently needed.
