Peru

Population: 28,674,757 (July 2007 est.)

Regime History: During the early 19th century, Peru remained a royalist stronghold while wars of independence swept through much of South America. While the elite vacillated between loyalty to the Spanish Monarchy and emancipation, independence was finally achieved after the military campaigns of Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín. As a result of guano exports increasing state revenues, Peru enjoyed stability under the presidency of Ramón Castilla between the 1840s and 1860s. However, by the 1870s, guano resources had been squandered leaving the country heavily indebted, which led to increased political in-fighting.

During the 1879–1883 War of the Pacific, Peru was defeated by Chile, losing the provinces of Tarapacá and Arica as a result of the treaties of Ancón and Lima. Internal struggles after the war were followed by a period of stability under the Civilista Party, which lasted until the onset of the authoritarian regime of Augusto B. Leguía. The Great Depression caused the downfall of Leguía, renewed political turmoil, and the emergence of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA). The rivalry between this organization and a coalition of the elite and the military defined Peruvian politics for the following three decades.

In 1968, the Armed Forces, led by General Juan Velasco Alvarado, staged a coup against President Fernando Belaunde. The new regime undertook radical reforms aimed at fostering development but failed to gain widespread support. In 1975, Velasco was forcefully replaced as president by General Francisco Morales Bermúdez, who paralyzed reforms and oversaw the reestablishment of democracy. The Shining Path (a guerrilla group) began operations in Peru in 1980, leading to increased political violence, extrajudicial executions, the prevalence of torture, and other human rights violations. During the 1980s, Peru faced a considerable external debt, ever-growing inflation, and a surge in drug trafficking.

Under the presidency of Alberto Fujimori (1990–2000), the country started to recover economically and the threat from the Shining Path insurgency was minimized. In 1992 Fujimori shut down Congress and the Supreme Court, and suspended civil liberties. Only in 1993, the year after what became known as the "self-coup" were civil liberties gradually reinstated. During Fujimori’s tenure, accusations of authoritarianism, corruption, and human rights violations forced his resignation after the controversial 2000 elections. Since the end of the Fujimori regime, Peru has tried to fight corruption while sustaining economic growth; the current president is Alan García.

Organization: Peru is a constitutional republic with 25 administrative divisions. The legal system is based on the civil law system. The Judicial branch is the Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary).

Economy: Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metals subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of infrastructure deters trade and investment. GDP - per capita (PPP): $6,600 (2006 est.).

Population below poverty line: 54% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate: 7.2% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups: 45% Amerindian, 37% mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white), 15% white, 3% black, Japanese, Chinese, and other.