Populism

Colombia stands out from its immediate neighbours for various reasons. One of the most important is the exceptionally high levels of violence the country has experienced for a long period. In fact, for more than half a century left-wing guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, and criminal cartels have been fighting for control of territory and drug trafficking routes. According to official data, a total of just over 450,000 people, mostly civilians, died because of the conflict in the 1985-2018 period. A military deadlock in the 1990s led to the conservative presidency of Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010), during which the army went on the offensive and kidnappings and homicides were sharply reduced. Uribe’s hardline security policies weakened the rebels and enabled his successor, Juan Manuel Santos (2010-2018), to launch peace talks with the largest guerrilla group, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc). A peace deal, enabling guerrillas to lay down their arms and participate in peaceful politics, was reached in 2016, although Farc dissidents and other groups continued fighting.