Inmigrantes sirio-libaneses y sus prácticas económicas (ilegales) en Colombia, 1880-1930

Abstract

Between 1880 and 1930, Colombia received a significant number of immigrants from Syria and Lebanon, who, through various business activities, ended up being part of the economic elite of several Colombian cities. By studying the presence of these immigrants in the commercial circuit of the Caribbean Colombian and the Atrato, I analyze their economic rise, making special emphasis in the intersection between Syrian-Lebanese’s economic success and some illegal economic practices. I argue that the money counterfeiting, the smuggling and the land grabbing were crucial in the process of capital accumulation and economic consolidation of some Syrian- Lebanese immigrants in Colombia.