Analysis of Peru’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic according to the instrumental perspective

This research analyzes Peru’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens ofthe instrumental perspective, one of the main theories in Public Administration and thatemphasizes rational decisions within goal-oriented and hierarchical structures. The paperexamines the case study of the Peruvian government facing the COVID-19 pandemic andexplores how the government implemented the vertical and horizontal specialization to managethis crisis. This is specifically important as the interplay between centralized executiveauthority and coordination across specialized unit faces unique challenges in the LatinAmerican region. Through a qualitative analysis of institutional measures, policyimplementation, and empirical data on health and socioeconomic outcomes, the paper identifiesboth the strengths and limitations of Peru’s pandemic governance. The findings highlight thechallenges of applying instrumental theories to real-world crises in developing contexts,revealing the necessity for more context-sensitive governance structures.