The curse of freedom?

This introduction explains the rationale and objectives of the book. It identifies the specificities of Peru as a Latin American nation. It then sets out the approach of the book, emphasizing how it attempts to provide accessible and yet scholarly accounts of the main periods and processes of the country’s history since the late colonial period, and how it differs from other studies of Peru’s modern history. It presents one of the key themes of the volume: the sense that Peru’s multiple and contrasting national projects since independence in 1821, what the editors refer to as the curse of freedom, have created instability but also expectation. Finally, the introduction introduces the main arguments put forward in each chapter.