Colombia: A War against Civilians

Abstract

Considers the evolution of the armed guerrilla conflict in Colombia since the 1980s. Initially, actors fighting in the war were guerrillas, but soon, paramilitaries became involved in a more complex struggle, the result of a "strategic rupture." After citing statistics on the growth & power relationships of the armed groups, their sociospatial control tactics are discussed, including the expansion of the territorial network, exploitation, & dominion over local economic resources, & control over the indigenous population. Because of the war's great flexibility in the evolution of the military geography & in power relations between armed participants, this war is atypical in its rural roots, & in its terror campaign against the civilian population. 23 References. J. Sadler