juan_carlos_mariategui

Peruvian Marxist theorist who founded Latin America's first socialist political party in 1924

Juan Carlos Mariátegui (1894-1930) revolutionized political thought in Latin America through his synthesis of Marxism and indigenous Andean culture. Despite losing his leg at 17 in a work accident, he became one of the most influential journalists of his time. His seminal work Seven Essays on Peruvian Reality (1928) argued for a uniquely Andean socialism combining Quechua traditions with Marxist principles. Mariátegui founded the Socialist Party of Peru in 1928, which later evolved into the Peruvian Communist Party. His concept of 'Indigenous Socialism' inspired movements like the EZLN in Mexico and the MAS party in Bolivia. Though overshadowed by Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, modern scholars recognize his foundational role in Latin American leftism. His prosthetic leg, now displayed at the Lima Museum of Political History, symbolizes his triumph over adversity. Recent biopics include The Thinking Leg (2021).