Indigenous Land Rights and Development in the Peruvian Amazon: Communalism versus Capitalism

Abstract

Peruvian jungle regions have remained relatively untouched by development projects, but recent sell-offs of more than 70% by President Alan García’s government have caused controversy and violent protests that threaten to divide the developing nation. A look at Inca and colonial land rights can help us understand the communal land rights model that is currently preventing development projects. There are many obvious upsides to opening the native-owned lands to development like growth of the Peruvian economy and employment opportunities; however, the indigenous culture would also be under threat by national and multinational companies that have little regard for any native culture that stands in the way of profit. Some argue that improving indigenous land rights are the key to getting the communities organized and able to benefit from the imminent development. Others believe that these type of land rights will lead to “divide and conquer” tactics historically employed by big business. This paper seeks to understand the context of the controversy in order to determine a middle ground solution between both arguments that can deliver economic growth to Peru while simultaneously preserving indigenous culture, respecting human rights, and conserving the environment.