Pronunciation: [ʃˈa͡ɪnɪŋ pˈaθ] (IPA) 
Shining Path is a leftist guerrilla group that emerged in Peru in the 1980s. The word, "Shining Path," is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ pæθ/, which represents the sounds of "sh," "ai," "n," "ing," "pa," and "th." The word is often misspelled as "Shinning Path," but the correct spelling is important for accurately reporting on the group and its violent history.
Shining Path refers to a Maoist revolutionary group known as the Communist Party of Peru - Shining Path. It is a radical leftist organization that emerged in the late 1960s and gained notoriety in the 1980s and 1990s for its violent insurgency in Peru.
Named after a quote from the founder, Abimael Guzmán, the term "Shining Path" refers metaphorically to the path to revolution that will illuminate the way to a communist society. The group sought to establish a communist state through armed struggle, considering Peru's government and its institutions as corrupt and oppressive.
The Shining Path employed guerrilla tactics and terrorism to achieve its goals, including targeted assassinations, bombings, and massacres. Their strategy involved mobilizing peasants, particularly those from indigenous communities, to overthrow the Peruvian government and create a communist regime.
The movement aimed to abolish all social classes, eradicate capitalism and imperialism, and promote agrarian reform. They justified their violent actions as necessary to dismantle what they perceived as a deeply unjust system.
However, the Shining Path's methods caused immense suffering and loss of life, mainly affecting the rural population. Estimates suggest that tens of thousands of people were killed or forcibly recruited, causing widespread fear and displacements.
Throughout the 1990s, Peruvian government forces engaged in an intense military campaign against the Shining Path, significantly weakening the organization. Though the group has been largely dormant in recent years, remnants still exist, posing occasional threats to the country's stability.
The term "Shining Path" refers to the Communist insurgent group known as the Communist Party of Peru - Shining Path (in Spanish: Partido Comunista del Perú - Sendero Luminoso). The name "Shining Path" is a translation of "Sendero Luminoso" from Spanish.
The word "Sendero" means "path" or "trail", while "Luminoso" can be translated as "shining" or "bright". Therefore, the literal translation of "Sendero Luminoso" is "Shining Path".
The term was coined by the founder and leader of the group, Abimael Guzmán, who believed in the ideology of Maoism and saw the group's mission as illuminating the path to revolution in Peru. The Shining Path is notorious for its acts of violence, terrorism, and guerrilla warfare during the late 20th century in Peru.
