Peru

While leftist governments have been elected across Latin America, this pink tide has failed to reach Peru. Instead, Peru remains a stark example of state capture, with a firmly entrenched corporate elite holding a monopoly on political power. With a particular focus on the role of the mining industry, Peru: Elite Power and Political Capture looks at the ways in which, following the 2016 elections, these elites have been able to consolidate their position at the expense of genuine democracy. In the process, John Crabtree and Francisco Durand provide a unique case study of state development by revealing the mechanisms used by elites to dominate political discussion and marginalise their opponents, as well as the role played by international financial institutions and foreign investors. The significance of their findings therefore extends far beyond Peru, and illuminates the wider issue of why mineral-rich countries so often struggle to attain meaningful democracy. Book jacket.