Waves of Change: Political violence and displacement during the Internal War in Peru (1980-2000)

This investigation responds to the problem of the approximate 600,000 people that were internally displaced from 1980 to 2000 due to the political violence that took place between the Peruvian State and insurgent groups like Sendero Luminoso. Specifically, I investigate the relationship between political violence and internal displacement, as well as the nature of the personal experiences of the displaced. Developing the investigation in Cusco and Lima, I utilize a combination of archival revision, direct observation, and interviews. The interviews, from indigenous people displaced from Apurímac during the Internal War, serve as testimonies which I compare with other testimonies collected by the Commission of Truth and Reconciliation. I argue that there is a direct relationship between political violence and displacement. However, I also argue that it is necessary to examine the specific, unique experiences of the displaced in order to avoid grouping them into one body of victims.