At the Mercy of Masters

Uncomfortable Truths in We the Indians

We the Indians by Hugo Blanco provides a poignant account of the conditions that the Campesinos experienced and how they mobilized reform. An intriguing quote that we read describes how despite gaining independence, the country has found itself entangled in a new form of colonialism under multinational corporations:

Today we continue to work for our foreign masters. With ‘Independence’ even though we had a flag and a national anthem, we became a colony of Britain, then the United States, and now our masters are multinational companies. We produce what the master of the moment needs: guano, saltpetre, rubber, cotton, sugar, fishmeal, cocaine, wood, minerals, hydrocarbons, and the money we have left from this is also sent to our masters in the name of foreign debt. (105)

This quote reveals the tragic cycle of exploitation that campesinos are subject to. The air quotes around independence highlights the false perception of having autonomy when in reality they are dependent on multinational companies and the demands of these entities. The passage references several elements that have been produced for these foreign interests such as guano, saltpetre, rubber, cotton, sugar, richmeal, cocaine, minerals, hydrocarbons and money. In Chapter 4 of the text, the author discusses how the people do not produce for themselves anymore and instead for the benefit of their oppressors.

The author highlights how these issues extend beyond agriculture with their reference to the numerous exploited resources. Mining, oil extraction, and other resource-intensive industries frequently operate with little regard for local ecosystems and livelihoods, exacerbating poverty rather than alleviating it. Moreover, the profits generated seldom benefit the communities who bear the brunt of the environmental and social consequences.

In We the Indians, Hugo Blanco exposes the harsh reality of how many people were arguably forced to work in the Mines. The conditions were horrid and inhumane as the workers often did not see sunlight until their death. Thinking further about the mining operations, it is evident that silver and gold were not for the use of the regional inhabitants for Indigenous people at the time because much of their dress is made of natural fibres as we’ve seen during our time in Peru. Rather their extractive projects are primarily for foreign consumers.

Moreover, the reference to “foreign debt” is especially poignant. Many developing nations become trapped in loan debts used to finance various national projects such as with infrastructure or economic stimulation, and the debt repayments siphon off resources that could be invested towards education, healthcare, or other sustainable development initiatives. As such, there becomes an entrapment of dependency.