Institutions, Military Policy, and Human Rights in Colombia

In: Latin American perspectives: a journal on capitalism and socialism, Volume 28, Issue 1, p. 31-55

Abstract

Examines military policy in Colombia over the last 15 years to consider how Colombia has managed to retain control over the military, maintain a system of competitive elections, & broaden its democracy, in spite of increasing social & political violence. It is argued that Columbia's power structure & its relationship with the US are central to understanding its military policies. Institutional & societal approaches to analyzing military/security policies are discussed, along with the historical linkage between Colombia's economic elites & the two major political parties. It is maintained that these linkages have had a significant impact on government policies & that they are reflected in the actions of the armed forces. Specific examples are given of how these liaisons affected policy decisions during President Ernesto Samper's (1994-1998) administration, which exhibited increased levels of social/political violence. It is contended that little has changed in state-society relations under President Andres Pastrana, & the influence of business, landowning elites, & international actors on policy decisions suggests that institutional approaches are not adequate for fully explaining the continuities or shifts in Colombian military/security policies. 64 References. J. Lindroth