Indigenous political participation in Peru: A history of racism, exclusion, and violence

Peru is a country that was built upon ethnic and racial divisions, which had their origins in the time of the Spanish settlement. This division has established the way in which some social groups have accessed power, while others have remained aside. On the opposing side of the line are, in fact, the ethnic and racial groups that have been considered "indigenous". This gap between the high-and the low-status groups (among which the indigenous are considered) leads to a difference in the way both groups are granted access to the different spheres of power. Undoubtedly, throughout the country's history, this distance has conditioned the way in which indigenous groups have participated in the Peruvian political activity, and additionally the way in which they relate to the Peruvian government. This way, throughout history, the participation of the so-called "indigenous" groups has gone through a lack of political interest phases and through others of resistance to a politically centralized power that, traditionally, segregates them. Today, the relative modernization of the Peruvian government, as well as the incorporation of some of the demands of these groups, have allowed access to conventional mechanisms of political participation: (1) through the opening of public institutions and norms that have given the so-called indigenous groups a voice to participate in the government, and (2) through the presence (a minority, in fact) of some members of these groups that have been granted a place in the legislative power. Nevertheless, this conventional participation seems to be insufficient, and proof of this is the fact that, today, the struggles are taking place not only through conventional mechanisms of participation. Conversely, the resistance is still being channeled through social movements and community-based organizations, within a non-conventional space.