UBC’s Latin American Studies Program laments the news that Peruvian anthropologist Carlos Iván Degregori has died.
Carlos Iván was probably Peru’s foremost anthropologist. He was also one of the country’s pre-eminent public intellectuals. He first came to attention for his pioneering work on Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), the Maoist guerrilla insurgency of the 1980s that arose in the same highland region (Ayacucho) from which Degregori himself came. It was then only fitting that he should be a key member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that, in 2001-2003, followed the Sendero civil war.
He taught in Lima and, as a visiting professor, in numerous North American and European universities. He was director of the Instituto de Estudios Peruanos. He was also a charming and approachable man who had time and an encouraging word for everyone. A brief biography and bibliography of his works in English has been published by the English-language Peruvian Times. A longer and more personal tribute, in Spanish, is available from Lamula.pe. And La República has published an editorial about his life and death.