Today we were visited by representatives of the US Embassy and USAID who are working here in Peru. Their presentation was incredibly interesting, and not only echoed some of the trends and issues we’ve been learning about, but provided more political insight about the current state of Peru and America’s role in its development. Although we won’t be working within the political realm as Peace Corps volunteers, political events and leaders undoubtedly influence the needs of the country.

Democracy can be difficult to maintain in a country that was under an authoritative regime before 1980 and had several periods of turmoil since then. Many Peruvians have a negative view of politics in general, as they have been let down repeatedly in the past. There is a very weak political party system, with over 20 national political parties and only 3-4 percent of the population supporting a particular political party.

The integration of the indigenous and rural population into political, administrative, and economic decision-making through decentralization is a current push here in Peru. However, this process can be complicated, and with 1/3 of the population in Lima, the power is naturally concentrated in this urban area. Efforts are currently being made to distribute power to regional authorities who previously had very little control. As Peace Corps volunteers, we will be working directly with the rural population and helping empower them through access to education, health, business development, etc. Additionally, we will have the opportunity to work with local municipalities to help develop programs and carry out projects that meet the needs of the local population. We will also be present in the country for local elections this October and the presidential elections in 2011, which should be an interesting experience.