Paper short abstract:

This paper will look at key works by Vargas Llosa to examine how his apparent transformation from socialist to neoliberal has been underpinned by his consistency regarding both democracy and political and individual freedom, which reveals an underlying liberalism throughout his political evolution.

Paper long abstract:

Whilst he is undoubtedly better known for his works of fiction the Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa has also written consistently about political matters, a political involvement which culminated in his running (unsuccessfully) for the presidency of Peru in 1990. Throughout this campaign, which was run on a neoliberal ticket, Vargas Llosa promoted the free market economy. Despite his defeat in the election to Alberto Fujimori, Vargas Llosa has continued to support neoliberal policies, and has underpinned his political philosophy with a committed opposition to both nationalism and dictatorships. While Vargas Llosa's position as a neoliberal is unequivocal, his earlier labelling as a socialist is more ambiguous. Although he was a supporter of the Cuban Revolution, Vargas Llosa remained committed to democracy and the liberal ideals of political and individual freedom.

This paper will look at specific examples of Vargas Llosa's non-fiction work, in particular two key speeches: 'La literatura es fuego', given in 1967 upon being awarded the Rómulo Gallegos Prize, and 'Elogio de la lectura y la ficción,' given in 2010 on receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature for that year. In examining these speeches this paper will show both how the novelist's left-leaning stance was underpinned by inherently liberal ideology, and also how the origins of some of the Right-wing ideals which form the basis of Vargas Llosa's current political thinking can be traced back to what popular belief holds to be the left-wing period of his political evolution.