Los Estados en los márgenes: soberanía y gubernamentalidad en el principal valle cocalero peruano

Abstract

Governance of areas with prevalence of illegal economies belongs to a broad academic discussion, even though studies on the characteristics of the State in those areas are scarce. Based on a qualitative case study, this paper examines the interactive consequences of state intervention in the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM). This region is the main coca growing area of Peru and operational center for terrorist remnants. For this reason, the region constitutes one of the main security concerns of the Peruvian government. Governing the VRAEM has always been a challenge and has not always been carried out according to government´s plans. This paper shows that due to the rationale of intervening in an area of illicit economies the VRAEM is governed by at least two types of State power: a sovereign power and a governmental power. The coexistence of these types of state powers allows exploring the multiplicities of governmental practices in the area, as well as the local resistance to both powers.

Governance of areas with prevalence of illegal economies belongs to a broad academic discussion, even though studies on the characteristics of the State in those areas are scarce. Based on a qualitative case study, this paper examines the interactive consequences of state intervention in the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM). This region is the main coca growing area of Peru and operational center for terrorist remnants. For this reason, the region constitutes one of the main security concerns of the Peruvian government. Governing the VRAEM has always been a challenge and has not always been carried out according to government's plans. This paper shows that due to the rationale of intervening in an area of illicit economies the VRAEM is governed by at least two types of State power: a sovereign power and a governmental power. The coexistence of these types of state powers allows exploring the multiplicities of governmental practices in the area, as well as the local resistance to both powers.