State Building and Conflict Resolution in Colombia, 1986-1994

Based in part on field research Harvey Kline conducted during multiple visits to Bogota, this book analyzes the relations between the administrations of Virgilio Barco Vargas (1986-1990) and Cesar Caviria Trujillo (1990-1994) and the violent leftist faction that controlled many parts of the country Kline details and compares the leaders' attempts to use peaceful means - including indirect bargaining, democratization of the constitution, and judicial reform - to suppress the country's lawbreaking elements, a strategic break with the government's 150-year reliance on force. Kline analyzes these administrations' successes and failures and, finding no significant improvement in the lives of Colombians, points to three major culprits: the lack of tradition of peaceful conflict resolution; the increased problems arising from urbanization and modernization; and the vast amount of money brought into the country by the drug trade.