Max Cameron

1
Colombia Violence and Democracy

• Max Cameron
• Poli 332
• March 30, 2009

2
Colombias Turbulent Political History

• Two-party system dates to 19th century
• High level of violence 1948 assassination of
  Gaitan in and La Violencia (1946-1964, esp.
  1948-53) 200,000 killed
• The National Front (1956-1974) a pact like Punto
  Fijo
• Emergence of FARC, ELN
• ANAPO, M-19
• 1991 a democratic constitution adopted by
  democratic means
• Major threats to constitutional order today
• Drug cartels
• Guerrillas (FARC and ELN)
• Paramilitaries

3
Elections in Colombia

• Elections are regular, turnout typically around
  45 Citizens trust electoral institutions
• Elections are not entirely clean or free voters
  are often intimidated, especially in rural areas.
• Parapolitica scandal has exposed a kind of fraud
• Clientelistic vote-buying also commonplace
• Elected officials are subject to undue influence
  by armed groups (paramilitaries). Dozens of
  members of congress are under paramilitary
  influence

4
Constitutional Order in Colombia

• Disputes have occurred within the constitution
• Re-election approved in 2005, reinforced
  presidentialism, weakening checks balances
• There is a pattern of executive interference in
  judiciary
• Repeated attempts have been made to rollback
  powers of the Constitutional Court and limit
  judicial review
• Military courts shield human rights abuses

5
Citizenship in Colombia

• 40 years of internal conflict has created 3
  million displaced people (7 total pop)
• Only Sudan has larger number of internally
  displaced persons
• Struggles over land are at the heart of the
  conflict between FARC, paramilitaries, drug
  traffickers
• Journalists of have been targeted
• Violence against trade unionists limit the
  freedom of association. 2,665 killed since 1986,
  400 under Uribe government.

6
Summary and Conclusions

• In Colombia the core institutions of electoral
  democracy are threatened by illegal actors
• The constitution has not been altered by
  unconstitutional means, but checks and balances
  have been disrupted by
• Efforts to expand presidential powers
• A persistent pattern of attacks on the
  independence of the judiciary
• The erosion of the legitimacy of congress due to
  parapolitica influence
• The exercise of citizenship is hindered by
  widespread violence