Shining Path is an illustrative example of the Global Resistance to Existing Power Structures topic in Unit 8 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test.
Shining Path, also known as Sendero Luminoso in Spanish, is a Maoist guerrilla group that originated in Peru in the late 20th century. Founded by Abimael Guzmán in 1980, Shining Path aimed to overthrow the Peruvian government and establish a communist state based on Maoist principles. The group’s ideology combined elements of Maoism with indigenous Andean beliefs, advocating for the violent overthrow of the existing social order.
Shining Path gained notoriety for its brutal tactics, including bombings, assassinations, and massacres targeting government officials, security forces, civilians, and rival leftist groups. The group operated primarily in rural areas, seeking to mobilize peasant communities and exploit grievances against the state.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Shining Path waged a bloody insurgency against the Peruvian government, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread human rights abuses. However, a combination of government crackdowns, internal divisions, and loss of popular support weakened the group over time.
Today, Shining Path remains a shadow of its former self, largely marginalized and fragmented. While some remnants of the organization continue to engage in criminal activities such as drug trafficking, its influence and capacity for large-scale violence have significantly diminished. Nevertheless, the legacy of Shining Path’s insurgency continues to shape Peru’s political landscape and collective memory of the period.
Free Printable Reading Passage on Shining Path
Do you want to watch a video about Shining Path?
Global Resistance to Established Power Structures after 1900
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization
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