The marginalized Aymara: Struggles of rural communities in the face of Peru's decentralization

This thesis presents challenges facing Peru's rural peasant communities, in light of the nation's new political contracts for decentralization and citizen participation. It explores the realities and needs in the areas of economic development and the education and health sectors for minority Aymara-speaking citizen who live in extreme poverty and poverty. The thesis asks how the design of decentralization and citizen participation is perceived to support sustainable social and economic development by local actors in their rural communities. In turn, it seeks to understand what new problems arise from the new political contract. In the recent environment of local political tensions and violence, can the decentralization process promote local development without provoking greater divisions or further marginalization of rural society? The thesis also considers ways of improving communication and efficiency of the processes for local actors who participate in the decision-making and development of rural society.