In June 2017, Dr. Omar Sanchez of Texas State’s Department of Political Science hosted a Study Abroad program in Lima, Peru at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Students took courses on Latin American Politics and Economic Development in Latin America, and explored Peruvian politics and culture. The group explored a variety of sites including Machu Picchu, Cuzco, and Iquitos, which Nina Burleigh of the New York Times calls “Capital of the Amazon.”
Graduate student Travis Ferrell was struck by the variety of climates and topographies he saw. His travels included a fishing trip for piranha and swimming in a river full of them. Ferrell described the political climate in Peru as characterized by “a major divide between the youth and the older generations. Older generations see Fujimori as being able to get things done in government, while the youth see him as a dictator.” He further noted that political parties come and go with every election. “Unlike in the U.S., where political parties are deeply tied into government, there is not a consistent message from election to election.” He also noted that it was difficult for those in the outskirts of the country to make their voices heard. “Maybe there could be a two-party system if someone were able to unite people outside Lima,” Ferrell observed.
