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Triggered by the Assassination of Liberal leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán (Bogotá, 9 April 1948), it caused massive riots, also called The Bogotazo, and a nationwide partisan war between Liberals and Conservatives. -
Impact:
Social: ~200,000–300,000 deaths; massive rural displacement; breakdown of trust between neighbors.
Economic: Rural economies collapsed in affected regions; migration to urban centers accelerated.
Cultural: Rise of oral histories and folk songs recounting massacres; entrenched political polarization. -
Liberals and Conservatives agree to alternate power every 4 years to end partisan bloodshed. Impact:
Social: End of open civil war but exclusion of other political movements fueled resentment.
Economic: Some stability returned, but rural inequality persisted.
Cultural: Fostered perception of an elite-controlled democracy; marginalized voices sought alternative political paths. -
Left-wing guerrilla groups form after rural peasant uprisings and failed land reforms. Impact:
Social: Start of modern guerrilla warfare in Colombia; expansion of armed conflict zones.
Economic: State resources diverted to military campaigns; agricultural production hit in conflict zones.
Cultural: Guerrilla movements became part of Colombian identity debates — portrayed both as resistance and as destabilizing forces. -
M-19 (urban guerrilla) emerges in 1974; guerrillas gain rural control; kidnappings and extortion grow. Impact:
Social: Rise in political kidnappings and fear in cities; erosion of trust in state security.
Economic: Tourism declines; foreign investment hesitates.
Cultural: Songs, literature, and films begin reflecting themes of rebellion and political disillusionment. -
Medellín and Cali cartels dominate global cocaine trade.
Impact:
Social: Surge in urban violence, assassinations, and corruption; “narcoculture” emerges.
Economic: Drug money fuels both luxury construction and money laundering; informal economies expand.
Cultural: Narco-aesthetic (music, clothing, language) spreads; Medellín and Cali become infamous worldwide. -
Right-wing paramilitary groups form to fight guerrillas, often linked to drug trade. Impact:
Social: Massacres and forced displacement intensify; rural populations caught between multiple armed groups.
Economic: Land concentration increases; agribusiness benefits from dispossession.
Cultural: Fear and silence dominate rural communities; survivors preserve memories through clandestine cultural expressions. -
M-19 storms Supreme Court; military retakes it violently, causing over 100 dead.
Impact:
Social: Public outrage over state and guerrilla brutality; loss of trust in justice system.
Economic: Negative blow to Colombia’s international image.
Cultural: Becomes a central symbol in art, documentaries, and theater about state violence. -
Escobar killed (1993); guerrillas (FARC, ELN) grow to tens of thousands of fighters.
Impact:
Social: Record kidnappings; rural exodus to cities; deep trauma in countryside.
Economic: Agriculture declines; some industries crippled by extortion.
Cultural: International image of Colombia shaped by violence; literature and cinema confront narco and war themes. -
Broad political reform increases rights and opens political participation. Impact:
Social: Recognition of indigenous and Afro-Colombian rights; greater civic freedoms.
Economic: Encourages foreign investment; boosts legal security.
Cultural: Sparks indigenous cultural revival and inclusion in national narratives. -
Government grants FARC a demilitarized zone; talks fail by 2002. Impact:
Social: Displacement and massacres continue; public frustration with peace process.
Economic: Conflict damages infrastructure and investor confidence.
Cultural: Rise of protest music, street art, and grassroots peace activism. -
US-backed anti-narcotics and counterinsurgency plan. Impact:
Social: Reduced kidnappings and guerrilla control in some areas; human rights abuses also reported.
Economic: Boost to military sector; limited rural development.
Cultural: Controversy over sovereignty and the militarization of society. -
Negotiated demobilization, though many rearm as criminal gangs (“Bacrim”). Impact:
Social: Partial decrease in open fighting; continued violence from new armed actors.
Economic: Slight recovery in tourism and business in some regions.
Cultural: Truth commissions and victim movements gain visibility.