The Autogolpe del Peru under President Alberto Fujimori (1992) Saundra Ramirez

Central Thesis Discussing the factors that lead Alberto Fujimori to initiate a coup d'état on the government that elected him into office ending democracy for Peru in hopes of stabilizing the economy from the perspective of liberalism.

Issues at Hand Alan Garcia (Fujimori Predecessor) Economic Collapse Tax Administration Corruption Congressional Corruption Shining Path Tupac Amaru Attempts at economic austerity rejected IMF and Foreign Aid required significant economic policy reform before lending 1980 was the beginning of Peruvian democracy after 12 years of military rule

Military Powers Facilitated removal of congress Operated without consequence Given authority and acted as police

Fujimori’s Solution April 5, 1992 Announcement Only executive branch remained Neo-liberalist Authoritarianism Dissolve all structures in order to rebuild

Liberalism v Fujimori “Neoliberal Authoritarianism” Peace is paramount International imprudence Finding peaceful solution Even prior to the autogolpe, Fujimori used power to enact 120 new laws Strengthened state apparatus considered essential Authoritarianism was a means to an objective Domestic conflict

International Response US: suspended all aid except for humanitarian assistance Argentina withdrew ambassador Germany suspended all aid Spain suspended all aid Venezuela adjourned diplomatic relationship Chile and Argentina requested Peru be removed from the Organization of American States

Approval Despite inflation and decreased income, Fujimori held popular support Unaccounted for population in the Andean region

Human Rights Violations Family Planning program (the sterilization of poor/rural women) Vladimiro Montesinos (head of Peru Intelligence Service)

References Crabtree, J. (2001). The collapse of Fujimorismo: Authoritarianism and its limits. Bulletin of Latin American Research, 20(3), De Olarte, E. (1993). Economic stabilization and structural adjustment under Fujimori. Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs, 35(2), Kelly, J. (2003). Counting on the past or investing in the future? Economic and political accountability in Fujimori’s Peru. The Journal of Politics, 65(3), Mauceri, P. (1995). State reform, coalitions, and the neoliberal autogolpe in Peru. Latin American Research Review, 30(1), Schmidt, G. (2000). Delegative democracy in Peru? Fujimori’s 1995 landslide and the prospects for Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs, 42(1), Stokes, S. (1997). Democratic accountability and policy change: Economic policy in Fujimori’s Peru. Comparative Politics, 29(2), Wood, D. (2000). The Peruvian press under recent authoritarian regimes, with special reference to the autogolpe of President Fujimori. Bulletin of Latin American Research, 19(1),