Peru (Oxfam Country Profiles Series)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent! A must have for visiting Peru.
Review: This is an excellent profile of Peru. If you are working in or traveling to Peru you will be greatly benefitted by this book.

Until I read John Crabtree's profile of Peru the best book out was Jane Holligan's FOCUS: Peru Though I still recommend Holligan's book (see my review) Crabtree's profile is more current (up to the first year of President Alejandro Toledo's term - 2001) and more sensitive to the plight of the poor and oppressed in Peru.

Excellent is Crabree's section "The Fight for Democracy". A must read for those who desire to understand the political forces that control Peru. His insight into the critical control that the IMF, WTO and IDB have over developing countries like Peru are eye opening. His sections on the economy and society are informative and succinct. The poor (54% of the society) struggle daily, living hand-to-mouth while the wealthy and powerful remain safe behind their walled fortress homes.
John Crabtree didn't excessively laud ex-president Fujimori terms in office, but neither was he excessively critical of Fujimori's dirty subterfuge, which recently has been disclosed. Nor was he critical of Fujimori's hatchet man Vladimiro Montesios. He states, "Categorizing Fujimori is not easy. By no means a traditional dictator, he was certainly no democrat. Rather, his regime was a hybrid of both elements."

As I write this review there are demonstrations in every city in Peru. In the streets of Cusco, the police, in their attempt to crush a demonstration, killed a teacher (28 May 2003). President Toledo, is suffering a massive crash in his approval ratings (from 84% after the election to 14% May 2003). The lowest approval rating ever given to a president.

This is a must read profile of Peru. John Crabtree's book, along with a good travel guide (Footprint Peru 4th ed. - see my review) should be in your suitcase before departure. Highly recommended

Rating:
Summary: Excellent! A must have for visiting Peru.
Review: This is an excellent profile of Peru. If you are working in or traveling to Peru you will be greatly benefitted by this book.

Until I read John Crabtree's profile of Peru the best book out was Jane Holligan's FOCUS: Peru Though I still recommend Holligan's book (see my review) Crabtree's profile is more current (up to the first year of President Alejandro Toledo's term - 2001) and more sensitive to the plight of the poor and oppressed in Peru.

Excellent is Crabree's section "The Fight for Democracy". A must read for those who desire to understand the political forces that control Peru. His insight into the critical control that the IMF, WTO and IDB have over developing countries like Peru are eye opening. His sections on the economy and society are informative and succinct. The poor (54% of the society) struggle daily, living hand-to-mouth while the wealthy and powerful remain safe behind their walled fortress homes.
John Crabtree didn't excessively laud ex-president Fujimori terms in office, but neither was he excessively critical of Fujimori's dirty subterfuge, which recently has been disclosed. Nor was he critical of Fujimori's hatchet man Vladimiro Montesios. He states, "Categorizing Fujimori is not easy. By no means a traditional dictator, he was certainly no democrat. Rather, his regime was a hybrid of both elements."

As I write this review there are demonstrations in every city in Peru. In the streets of Cusco, the police, in their attempt to crush a demonstration, killed a teacher (28 May 2003). President Toledo, is suffering a massive crash in his approval ratings (from 84% after the election to 14% May 2003). The lowest approval rating ever given to a president.

This is a must read profile of Peru. John Crabtree's book, along with a good travel guide (Footprint Peru 4th ed. - see my review) should be in your suitcase before departure. Highly recommended