Collective memory, resistance and reconstruction: the experience of the Montoneros in the Peruvian Andes

Abstract

This paper analyzed the experience of the montoneros, a spontaneous self-defense organization that emerged in an Andean community during the period of political violence in Peru (1980-2000). The historical and social context that motivated the community members to organize themselves to confront the Shining Path siege was examined. The objective was to understand the meaning of this form of self-defense in the collective memory and its impact on later generations. The research was developed under a qualitative approach, through semi-structured interviews with surviving community members, leaders, widows and orphans, as well as the formation of intergenerational focus groups. The results showed that the montoneros not only constituted a defense strategy but also represented a symbol of community cohesion and resistance. It was concluded that the study of this organization contributes to the reconstruction of historical memory and the recognition of local knowledge in the processes of national pacification.