(Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, 2021-12-01) Sevillano, Francisco
This paper takes stock of the theoretical debate on the role of discourse in historical work. In the first part of the study, the notion of discourse is defined under the approach known as «linguistic turn» since the 1960s. In particular, the main features of this approach are described in light of the narrative and anti-realist assumptions of the «new philosophy of history» and their reassessment under the «experiential turn». The second part of the paper refutes these assumptions and argues about the cognitive value of history from its classical origins.
(Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, 2021-12-01) Rohner, Stephanie
In this interview, Rolena Adorno, scholar of Latin American colonial literature, offers a reflection on her research on the chronicler Guaman Poma de Ayala and other authors of the colonial period. She discusses how she became interested in the subject, the maturation of her methodology, and the legacy of her publications.
(Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, 2021-12-01) Nasif, Samir
The article explores a case brought forward to the Cabildo of Buenos Aires after the annual election of council positions held in January 1804. The sudden resignation of one of the elected mayors triggered a dispute involving several government agencies and even resonating in the Madrid Court. Using documents from multiple sources, and drawing from the methodological contributions of the new political history, the jurisdictional approach to political power, and Inquisition studies, the study focuses on the strategic use of appeals and political powers, as well as on the juxtaposition of privileges and positions among Inquisition “familiares”. It also approaches the dispute as part of the confrontational dynamics of local elite groups, where capitulars’ connections with Court procu-ration mechanisms was highly relevant. Furthermore, the study considers the monarchy’s polysynodal rationale, as well as an evolving global context where certain privileges (especially within the Inquisition’s jurisdiction) were being seriously challenged.
(Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, 2021-12-01) Ayala Tafoya, Eduardo
Building on the study of political culture in 16th- and 17th-century Imperial Spain, and using unpublished documentation from the Archivo General de Indias, this article aims to analyze the modalities, features, and limits of the Marquis of Guadalcázar’s patronage practices under his administration of New Spain (1612-1621). This insight into the viceroy’s patronage networks identifies the members of his entourage, the role some of them played in pursing their patron’s interests, and their careers in the Indies. Moreover, the viceroy’s largesse encompassed colonial-born “beneméritos”, on whom he also bestowed his favors.
(Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, 2021-12-01) Fiorini, Gianluca
In a context where Peru’s internal armed conflict is used to promote political discord and polarization, it becomes necessary to review the historical sources used to assess that period. “Carta al teniente Shogún” (“Letter to Lieutenant Shogun”) is an autobiographical account by anthropologist Lurgio Gavilán, whose in-depth insight of his experiences addresses the internal armed conflict from a humanitarian and empathetic perspective. In his work, the scarring left by the confrontation is revisited in a more humane, nuanced, and, therefore, clearer light. More generally, it invites further reflection on the processes that originated Peruvian society as we know it.
(Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, 2021-12-01) Situ Chang, Miguel
Diverting from the liberal ideals that inspired independence, republican Peru maintained slave labor, which, combined with low wages, drove away natural-born workers from coastal agriculture. During the guano era, landowners sought to address the labor shortage by resorting to foreign immigration. In this context, under legislation enacted on November 17, 1849, Asian and European nationals migrated to a country that was not receptive to foreigners. Opponents of Chinese immigration in the 19th century labeled the law as «ley chinera» and attempted to stigmatize it as exclusively targeted to Chinese immigration. These attitudes have prevented a full understanding of the motives underlying the immigration policy of the time, as well as the persistence of slave labor imposed on unsuspecting foreign workers in Peru.