Introduction

The Cornell-Peru Project: history and memory

In 1952, Cornell University, through an agreement with the Peruvian Government, initiated the Cornell-Peru Project (CPP) in the Hacienda Vicos. The CPP had a double long-term aim: to conduct research about the processes of modernization and to introduce changes inside the community for its own development. The core idea of CPP was to improve the economic and social conditions in Vicos through the promotion of democracy and modernization. The activities of the CPP were focused on five main categories: agriculture, education, health, empowerment, and social integration at regional and national levels. The project was officially conducted from 1952 to 1966, but collection of information on the area began in 1949. The CPP was a source of controversies during its development and many years thereafter. This module not only examines the positive and unintended effects of the CPP but also relates contemporary narratives on Vicosinos memories of the Cornell Project.

Read More about History and memory and the chronology of the Cornell-Peru Project chronology.