Incluye referencias bibliográficas.

Contenido: Introduction -- Shining Path and the Peasantry in the changing context of Ayacucho (1960 - 1980) -- Revolutionary war and early counter-rebelion in the deparment of Ayacucho -- The DECAS and the struggle for the Apurimac River Valley (1983 - 1991) -- From Selva to Sierra: DECAS expansion and the reorganisation of Tambo district, 1991-1994 -- Comités de desarrollo: reconstruction and development in the twilight of civil war -- Unexpected endings -- Reflections .

Resumen: This study offers a detailed account of civil war and social change in late-twentieth century Peru. Specifically, it explores and chronicles the genesis and outcomes of armed peasant resistance to Shining Path in the Peruvian deparment of Ayacucho, using the phenomenom of peasant village-defence groups as a critical lens throught which to examine the impact of sociological violence on the peasants of Ayacucho, and their varied responses to it, -- Contraportada.