Peruvian Foreign Policy in the Modern Era

Interviews with successive presidents and leading diplomats add to the richness of the book. The clear, tight narrative makes this volume attractive to undergraduates as well as professionals—CHOICE

“For much of the new century, and despite its sometimes chaotic politics, Peru has been among the fastest-growing and best performing economies in Latin America. In this book, based on extensive interviews with the country's top leaders, Ronald Bruce St John provides a concise but thorough overview of Peruvian foreign policy in the recent past—one of the sources of this remarkable performance. An important book for anyone interested in Peru's international relations, the country that gave us the Pacific Alliance" — Jorge Heine, Research Professor, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University.

“St John’s knowledge of Peruvian foreign policy is extraordinary. Utilizing extensive interviews with former Peruvian presidents and ministers, St John makes a compelling argument that, in recent decades, Peru has reached out to resolve border conflicts and build relationships with countries other than the United States, in particular China.”—Cynthia McClintock, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University.

“In this book, Ronald Bruce St John presents a rigorous, scholarly examination of Peru’s diplomatic trajectory spanning three decades. This comprehensive work offers invaluable insights into the intricacies of Latin American international relations, making it essential reading for academics and researchers in the field.”—Alvaro Mendez, Senior Research Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science, co-author of China and Latin America: Development, Agency and Geopolitics (Bloomsbury, 2023).

“An essential book to understand about Peruvian foreign policy in recent times. Demonstrating a broad knowledge of Peru, Ronald Bruce St John provides a detailed and exhaustive review of the main characteristics and moments that have determined Peru’s international actions from 1990 to the present.”—Oscar Vidarte A., Associate Professor, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.

“This is a book that combines historical and political analysis with international relations. Ronald Bruce St John updates his studies on Peruvian foreign policy, placing them in the longest period of democracy and economic growth in the country. An essential text to understand the link between Peru and the world.”—Jose Alejandro Godoy, Political Scientist, PUCP—University of the Pacific.

“Focusing now on the ‘modern era’, Ronald Bruce St John completes his excellent summary of Peruvian Foreign Policy spanning through two world systems (pre- and post-war II) and the transit to a new world order. Concentration in the interplay of local and international circumstances over systemic issues provides the public with a comprehensive and very useful explanation of Peru’s evolving international insertion.” —AlejandroDeustua, Titular Member of the Peruvian Society of International Law.

 St. John’s Peruvian Foreign Policy in the Modern Era should be regarded as a valuable addition to the existing historiography on Peruvian foreign relations contributed by scholars such as Norberto Barreto Velázquez, Hal Brands, Lawrence A. Clayton, and Richard J. Walter—Strategic Visions

The book offers a well-written, admirably up-to-date overview of Peruvian foreign policy over the last three decades. St John provides a fair and balanced assessment of the players involved, with only the Peruvian Diplomatic Service receiving unalloyed praise. It will be of interest to students of Latin American foreign policy and area studies, as well as policy-makers in the region— International Affairs