Pérou : le rêve de l’Etat-nation des intellectuels de la génération de 1900

Children of the defeat of the Pacific War and of the following identity crisis, this generation of young intellectuals, involved with the oligarchic power by an ambivalent relationship of belonging and contestation, pined for rebuild and regenerate their country. The scrutiny of their works bring to light very different points of view and commitment levels, all of them participating of an attempt of unmasking the national reality and of thought about the implications of a modern nation-state building. These liberal and reformist angry young men believed that a homeland, a nation, a nationality and a citizenship are built thanks to the practice of the mind, the public education, the military service and the government of a democratically recognized enlightened elite. Thanks to their pretension of ethical elevation and technocratic know-how, they were convinced of making accurate analysis and able to administer the right remedies to sort out what they called the national problem, the social problem and the native problem. These young intellectuals dreamed to create ideal modern and liberal democracy, a society of responsible citizens, a developed economy, which would participate of the league of nations. Some of them, besides, have taken part in a partial modernization of the civil service and the functioning of the state. Although they did not realize their dream, the questions they posed a century ago are still relevant