Alan Garcia became President of Peru in July 1985. This book examines his administration and its effects on Peru. The author argues that initially Garcia was successful in tackling the countries problems but that when he left office in 1990 Peru's social, political and economic ills looked worse.

Part 1 The upswing, 1985-87: economic policy-playing by new rules; APRA'S political triumph; Sendero Luminoso and the Guerrilla challenge. Part 2 The downturn, 1987-90: the economy from boom to bust and beyond; the political response to the crisis; spiral of violence.