Víctor Andrés Belaúnde’s concept of peruanidad (Peruvianness) is defined as a "living synthesis" ( síntesis viviente

Unlike the Marxist or positivist thinkers of his time, Belaúnde proposed a spiritual and historical synthesis. He traveled extensively (studying at the Sorbonne and Cambridge) and represented Peru on the world stage. This exposure to global cultures did not dilute his patriotism; instead, it sharpened his definition of Peruanidad . He argued that true nationalism is not ignorance of the outside world, but the confident expression of one’s own soul in the global concert.

The central thesis of Peruanidad is that Peru cannot be understood solely through economics or class struggle (as the leftist thinkers proposed). Instead, Belaunde argues that the essence of Peru lies in its .

(originally published in 1943), argues that Peru's identity is not a static state but an ongoing process of integration that reconciles its diverse historical heritages. Core Concepts of Belaúnde's Peruanidad The Living Synthesis

was more than a philosophical concept; it was a tool for national reconstruction. ResearchGate Regeneration

| Feature | Víctor Andrés Belaúnde | José Carlos Mariátegui | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Spiritual/Political: Unity, History, National Soul. | Economic/Material: Land ownership, Class struggle. | | View of the Inca Past | A glorious foundation, but integrated into the present via Spain. | A socialist structure (Ayllu) that was destroyed by conquest. | | View of Colonialism | A civilizing and unifying force that created Peruanidad . | A destructive force that established feudalism. | | Solution for Indigenous | Legal protection, moral elevation, and cultural fusion. | Agrarian reform and socialist revolution. |

Víctor Andrés Belaúnde (1883–1966) was a prominent Peruvian intellectual, diplomat, and politician. He is considered one of the key figures of the "spiritualist" or "historicist" current in Peruvian sociology, standing in contrast to the Marxist interpretation of José Carlos Mariátegui and the positivist/indigenist interpretation of Luis E. Valcárcel.