The Shining Path: The Successful Blending of Mao and Mariategui in Peru

This study analyzes the Peruvian Maoist Shining Path Sendero Luminoso movement to discover an explanation for its survival and growth in power. The nature of the insurgency, to include the movements goals, forms of warfare, ideology, strategy, organization and unity, popular support, and external support are analyzed within the context of the Peruvian environment and the government response. The author concludes that the Shining Paths survival and growth in power results from the movements superior strategy, its organizational capability, and the governments response. The Shining Path has adapted Maoism to Perus current realities. Its strategy, although controversial for its use of terrorism and sabotage of Perus economic infrastructure, has proven successful to date. Most importantly, it has a cohesive organization that is remarkably adaptable. The Shining Paths external support network aids in politically isolating the Peruvian government internationally and provides significant funding from coca cultivation. The governments failure to recognize the nature of the insurgency, its seeking of a primarily military solution to the insurgency, and the brutal repression it has imposed has contributed to the Shining Paths success. Shining Path, Sendero Luminoso, Peru, insurgency, civil defense forces, Abimael Guzman, Luis Arce Borge, Ayacucho, coca, Maoism drug trafficking, Upper Huallaga Valley, Fujimori, rondas.