thumb|Flag of the [[Shining Path|Communist Party of Peru, also called "Shining Path"]]<!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see WP:SDNONE -->
Communism as a political philosophy in Peru dates back to the 1920s, a period when new ideological currents entered the country.
Throughout the movement's history, a number of parties, movements and organisations in the country have referred to themselves by the name of "communist party". The oldest to do so is the Peruvian Communist Party (Partido Comunista Peruano, PCP), originally founded in 1928 as the Peruvian Socialist Party (PSP) by Marxist philosopher and journalist José Carlos Mariátegui. The 1960s brought about the emergence of splinter groups up until the 21st century. One of these groups, commonly known as the Shining Path (PCP-SL), waged an insurgency against the Peruvian State that resulted in a 20-year period of violence that took place from 1980 to 2000, while its splinter groups have continued to operate from 2001 onwards.
History
The first Peruvian political party to adopt communism as an ideology was the Peruvian Communist Party (Partido Comunista Peruano, PCP). It was originally founded as the Peruvian Socialist Party (PSP) in 1928 by a group of nine socialist sympathisers (known as the "Group of Lima"), which included Marxist philosopher and journalist José Carlos Mariátegui, and formally changed its name in 1930, following Mariátegui's death and his succession by as party leader.
Following a period of outright illegality, the group gradually incorporated itself into the legal political scene during the 1960s, which led to the disappointment with its so-called bureaucratic and collaborationist character, believing that guerrilla warfare was the only path to the establishment of a socialist state. In 1962, a faction split and formed the National Liberation Army (ELN) a year later, which led such a military campaign until its defeat by 1965.
Peruvian reception for Marxism was increased by the 1959 victory of the Cuban revolution and the Fidel Castro's declaration following Cuba post-Bay of Pigs invasion declaration that he was a Marxist-Leninist and always would be.
Fernando Belaúnde Terry's administration was tolerant of the political left, and a variety of Marxist parties expanded during his time in office.
| No
| Headed by Illipa Tuta.
|-
| Militarizado Partido Comunista del Perú
| MPCP
| 1992
| No
| Operates as a militant group.
|-
| Frente Democrático del Pueblo
| FDP
| 2000
| No
| Political wing of the defunct MRTA.
|-
| Partido Político Nacional Perú Libre
| PL
| 2008
| No
|
|}
See also
- Anarchism in Peru
- Gonzalo Thought
- Shining Path
- José Carlos Mariátegui