Different Meanings of “Constitutional Change” and Sendero Luminoso’s “Reformist” Pretension

Abstract

Objective: This paper aims to unravel how the term "constitutional reform" has been used in different ways within the Peruvian State and how this has been reflected in the reality of the country itself. Method: The methodological approach was descriptive qualitative research, based on the methodology "process tracing" and "discourse analysis". The information shown was based on systematized data from journalistic information and public speeches given in recent years, which have been compiled in a repository. Results: The results demonstrate the different variations that the term "constitutional reform" has taken and how it has been used to support the Constituent Assembly, an objective of the radical left in Peru for decades. At the same time, it has been possible to demonstrate the relationship between this notion and the idea of "reform", which is the starting point of the terrorist group Sendero Luminoso, being the case that at present, little by little, they are getting closer to achieving their original objective. Conclusions: The central contribution of the paper demonstrates the similarity between the original idea of reform of the terrorist group Sendero Luminoso and the dominant discourse of constitutional reform in the violent protests after the Castillo coup d'état. This variation in the meaning of "constitutional reform" for the Peruvian population involved in this reform plan is proven.