Historical Analysis of the Colombian Dilemma

In the last forty years Colombia has descended into a quagmire of chaos and violence unmatched in the history of modern western civilization. Leftist insurgent groups, who seek the violent overthrow of the national government, are opposed; by right-wing paramilitary groups in a bitter civil war that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more. The conflict has resulted in a partition of the country in which the national government in Bogota has essentially no control over 40% of its territory. The civil war has been fueled on both sides by billions of dollars of drug profits funneled to the participants each year by shadowy drug cartels that operate illegally in Colombia's vast interior. The violence has spread to the society at large causing widespread crime, corruption, and human rights violations. The situation has become so confusing with the insurgents, paramilitaries, and narcotraffickers so intertwined, that it's nearly impossible to determine who is murdering whom. The chaos not only menaces Colombia, it has regional implications. It has the potential to spillover to Colombia's neighbors threatening several recent positive developments in South America, including democratization, growth of free markets, economic integration, the rule of law, and civil- military relations. Despite the gravity of Colombia's current situation, a cursory review of its history would lead one to wonder how it arrived where it is today. It has been a shining example of participatory constitutional government, maintaining faithful for nearly two hundred years to the formulas implanted in its revolution.