The present paper examines the factors that might explain Colombia’s comparatively late political Left Turn. To this end, it explores the historic conditions that hindered the consolidation of a leftist political party or coalition with broad electoral support until the foundation of the Historic Pact for Colombia. Moreover, it draws attention to the recent social, political and economic developments that have fostered the expansion of this left-wing coalition yet considering that the efforts to cement a leftist political alternative date back to the last century.
Between 2005 and 2008, the share of Latin American presidents from a right-wing party fell to 33%, compared to 64% in the early 1990s. By 2009, more than two-thirds of the countries in the region had a president from a left- or center-left party. Despite common sociopolitical and economic developments with its neighboring countries, Colombia elected a leftist president – for the first time in its modern history – only this year.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Latin America’s Left Turn: common economic and sociopolitical developments in regional comparison
2.1 Defining the Latin American “Left”
2.2 Economic factors: The unraveling of the neoliberal consensus and the search for a more equitable growth model
2.3 Sociopolitical factors: From narrow political openness toward the institutionalization of electoral competition
3. Particularities of Colombia: The Colombian Internal Armed Conflict
3.1 The narrative of the “internal enemy” as a pretext for political violence and exclusion
3.2 The challenges of consolidating a unified democratic left in the 21st century
3.3 Alvaro Uribe’s political project: The Democratic Security Policy (DSP)
4. Empirical evaluation: Understanding the timing of Colombia’s late Left Turn
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper aims to explain why Colombia experienced a comparatively late political "Left Turn" in its modern history. By analyzing the country's specific historical, political, and economic context—particularly the internal armed conflict and the persistent narrative of the "internal enemy"—the work seeks to identify the structural barriers that prevented the consolidation of a successful leftist electoral coalition until the emergence of the Historic Pact for Colombia.
- Comparative analysis of Latin American leftist trends versus the Colombian exception.
- The impact of the internal armed conflict on political exclusion and the suppression of the Left.
- The role of the "Democratic Security Policy" under Álvaro Uribe in shaping political culture.
- The influence of recent socioeconomic crises and national strikes on shifting voter preferences.
- The institutional and programmatic shift represented by the "Historic Pact for Colombia."
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 The narrative of the “internal enemy” as a pretext for political violence and exclusion
Colombia was no exception regarding the generalized exclusion of the Left from the electoral contest. The so-called National Front (1958-1974) was a political agreement that agreed to alternate the power between both parties in the presidency (Conservatives and Liberals), ensuring equal representation on all executive and legislative bodies and ministerial posts (cf. Acevedo 2015: 54). It initially enacted as an inexorable response to the political violence of the 20th century and to General Rojas Pinilla dictatorship. Albeit it managed to diminish violence, legally recognizing solely these two political parties eventually institutionalized the political discrimination of non-traditional political forces, represented by the student, peasant, and working-class movements (cf. Acevedo 2015: 50).
Political exclusion is considered one of the most decisive factors in the formation and consolidation of the first leftist guerrillas in the country (cf. Bello 2008: 76). The bipartisan dispute between the Liberal and Conservative parties dated to the 1920s and shaped Colombia’s political landscape for the following decades. The emergence of the Colombian Communist Party (PPC) in the 1930s encountered vast political resistance from the State. Repression and political exclusion towards the PPC persisted during the period of La Violencia and in the subsequent National Front (cf. ibid: 77f). Political violence throughout this period was fuelled by the formation of the first peasant armed groups for territorial defense in the early 1950s (cf. ibid: 77).
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia- People’s army (FARC-EP) emerged in 1964 as an alliance between the liberal peasant guerrillas, which could not be dismantled with the installation of the National Front and the remaining part of the PPC, which had not been included in the political landscape of the country (cf. ibid: 77).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research question regarding Colombia's late political "Left Turn" in contrast to regional trends and establishes the theoretical framework.
2. Latin America’s Left Turn: common economic and sociopolitical developments in regional comparison: Defines the Latin American Left and identifies the economic and sociopolitical factors that drove the regional power shift.
3. Particularities of Colombia: The Colombian Internal Armed Conflict: Examines how the internal armed conflict and the "internal enemy" narrative created lasting barriers to political participation and the rise of a unified left.
4. Empirical evaluation: Understanding the timing of Colombia’s late Left Turn: Analyzes economic and social indicators leading up to the 2022 elections to explain the historic electoral success of the Historic Pact for Colombia.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, highlighting the interplay between historical structural conditions and recent crises as the primary drivers of the recent political change.
6. Bibliography: Lists the sources and literature consulted for the paper.
Keywords
Colombia, Left Turn, Political exclusion, Internal armed conflict, Historical memory, Historic Pact for Colombia, Neoliberalism, Social inequality, Democratic Security Policy, Political polarization, National Strike, Electoral competition, Latin America, Gustavo Petro, Peace Agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the reasons behind Colombia's late "Left Turn," investigating why, unlike many of its Latin American neighbors, it took until recently for the country to elect a leftist president.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The study centers on political exclusion, the impact of the internal armed conflict, the narrative of the "internal enemy," and the role of socioeconomic factors in presidential elections.
What is the main research question of the study?
The study asks which historical and structural conditions hindered the consolidation of a leftist political alternative in Colombia for decades and what changed to eventually make this shift possible.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The research primarily evaluates secondary literature, analyzing empirical data and political developments through the lens of established theories on the Latin American Left Turn.
What topics are covered in the main section of the book?
The main section covers the regional comparison of the Left, the specifics of the Colombian conflict (notably the influence of the "internal enemy" discourse), and an empirical evaluation of recent socio-economic crises.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include Colombian Left Turn, internal armed conflict, political exclusion, Historic Pact for Colombia, and socioeconomic inequality.
What role did the "internal enemy" narrative play in Colombian politics?
The narrative was used to label leftist groups and parties as threats to national security, effectively justifying political exclusion and violence, and facilitating support for conservative government policies.
To what extent did the 2021 National Strike contribute to the electoral outcome?
The strike reflected profound social discontent and served as a catalyst for articulating diverse demands, which the Historic Pact for Colombia was able to channel into a successful political program.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Daniela Forero Nuñez (Autor:in), 2022, The long journey of Columbia's Left toward victory at the polls, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1330359
