Colombia’s Civil War

Global Teacher Seminar Bibliography: Colombia’s Civil War


Introduction

The land grant mission of The Ohio State University Library welcomes engagement with the community of Ohio in advancing access to the global knowledge through its area studies collections. This annotated bibliography introduces sources available on Colombia’s Civil War and Peace Process in support of the 2017 Global Teacher Seminar. Sources marked with an asterisk * are accessible through The Ohio State University Libraries and our valued partner the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

We welcome your questions and feedback on the sources that were the most helpful to you in the development of a lesson plan. Please contact Latin American Studies Librarian Pamela Espinosa de los Monteros for additional assistance locating sources.

I. PATHWAYS TO PEACE

A. Peace Agreement and Negotiation

  1. Renata Segura & Delphine Mechoulan, “Made in Havana: How Colombia and the FARC Decided to End the War,” New York: International Peace Institute, February 2017 English & Spanish.

Executive Summary of Peace Agreement; Key Issues; Role of the United Nations; Timeline of Peace Process. Download the complete report in English or Spanish.

2. Colombia Peace. Washington Office on Latin America, n.d. Web. 08 May 2017. Website. English.

Peace timeline; Documents from negotiations: FARC report on progress of negotiations; Call by President Santos to FARC; Speech by President Santos.

3. Casey, Nicholas. “Colombia’s Congress Approves Peace Accord With FARC. The New York Times. The New York Times, 30 Nov. 2016. Web. News Article. English.

Voting for Peace Agreement; Consulting with FARC; Peace Accord; Santos and Peace Prize; Congress’ vote

4. Palomino, Sally, Javier Lafuente Twitter, and R. MALDONADO (EFE) / ATLAS. “El Gobierno de Colombia y las FARC logran un nuevo acuerdo de paz.” EL PAÍS. EL PAÍS, 13 Nov. 2016. Web. News Article. Spanish.

Nuevo acuderdo de paz [New peace accord]; reclamos de los partidarios del ‘no’[Claims of those in favor of ‘no’]; Firma mútua [Mutual Signing]; LGBTI.

B. Review of the Peace Agreement

1. Siegfried, Kristy, “What Colombia’s peace process can teach the world,” IRIN, 20 July 2016, Online Article and Media. English.

This article discussed the unique aspects of the Colombia’s peace process in a global context and conditions of the peace agreement. Includes a timeline graphic of the Colombian conflict.

2. Chernick, Marc W. “Negotiated Settlement to Armed Conflict: Lessons from the Colombian Peace Process.” Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs, vol. 30, no. 4, 1988, pp. 53–88Academic Article. English.

Peacetime; Amnesty; Ceasefires; Government; Armed forces; Peace treaties; Insurgency; Peace movements; Violence; Political parties

3. *Boudon, Lawrence. “Guerrillas and the State: The Role of the State in the Colombian Peace Process.” Journal of Latin American Studies, vol. 28, no. 2, 1996, pp. 279–297. Academic Article. English.

Peacetime; Violence; Government reform; Political systems; Peace treaties; Citizenship; Demand; Civil society; Law reform; Judicial system

4. Herbolzheimer, Kristian, “Innovations in the Colombian Peace Process.” Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Center,2016, Academic Article. English

Background to the conflict and peace process; Factors contributing to the peace negotiating; Peace Negotiations Criteria; Comparison of past and present attempts to negotiate peace with the FARC.

5. Moreno, Maria Camila, “Colombia” International Center for Transitional Justice. Website, English

Transitional Justice in Colombia; Roots of conflict; Peace agreement; Previous accountability & Redress efforts; Reparations; Truth Commission; Women’s Rights; Reintegration of children

C. Nobel Peace Prize

1. Nobel lecture: Juan Manuel Santos, Nobel Laureate in Peace 2016.” YouTube, uploaded by Nobel Prize11 December 2016, Video. Spanish (English subtitles available).

Video of President Santos’ Nobel lecture. Professor Santos’ speech discusses the journey to peace, challenges to conflict resolution, the value of diplomacy, the history of the war in Colombia, and quotes from Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Bob Dylan. Select setting, subtitle and auto-translate to view English subtitles.

2. Juan Manuel Santos – Nobel Lecture: “Peace in Colombia: From the Impossible to the Possible“. Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014. Web. 9 May 2017, Online Article and Media. English/Spanish/Norwegian.

Transcript of the Nobel lecture by President Santos; Explore the site for facts,interviewsphoto gallery and videos on President Santos.

3. CNN Español. “El presidente de Colombia Juan Manuel Santos gana el Nobel de la Paz.” CNN. Cable News Network, 07 Oct. 2016. Web.  New Article and Media. Spanish.

Interview with President Santos on his nomination of the Noble Peace prize and the Colombia Peace Agreement; Includes images and tweets. 

4. Godoy, Denise. “El presidente de Colombia Juan Manuel Santos gana el Premio Nobel de la Paz.” NODAL. Noticias de América Latina y el Caribe, 07 Oct 2016. News Article and Media. Spanish (Some English).

A call interview with Nobel Peace Prize winner President Santos conducted by NODAL (Noticias de América Latina y el Caribe). The online article includes a transcript and online audio of the interview.

D. Reintegration of the FARC

1. *Otis, John. “Colombia Faces A Challenge: Turn FARC Guerrillas Into Civilians.” Morning Edition, 27 Jan. 2017. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, or access through CML Libraries (Select the “Opposing Viewpoints in Context” database). Online News (Audio).

NPR Morning Edition interview by David Greene on Northern Colombia’s efforts to reintegrate the FARC into civilian life. Transcription of the audio report is available.

2. Domínguez Loeda, Gonzalo. “Colombia peace process: EU prioritizes rehabilitation of child soldiers.” com. Trans. Sam Morgan. EURACTIV, 07 Feb. 2017. Web. 08 May 2017. News Article. English and French.

Reintegration of Child Soldiers; Colombian Government and FARC; Reintegration into Society; Program Development; Demobilization Protocol for Minors. 

II. COLOMBIA’S CIVIL WAR

A. Civil War History

1. *Simons, G L. Colombia: A Brutal History. London: Saqi, 2004. Print. or access through CML Book. English  See publisher’s descriptionand table of contents

2. *Colombia’s Guerrilla War: A Sundered Nation. Films Media Group, 1999Video. English and Spanish

News documentary of the Colombia conflict from 1948 to 1999.

3. *Bouvier, Virginia M.Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War. Washington, D.C: United States Institute of Peace, 2009. Print.

A compilation of 30 emerging authors, human rights activists, and peace practitioners from Colombia and abroad; This book explores how local and regional initiatives relate to national efforts, provides insights into negotiating practices of past two decades, and identifies possible synergies.

B. Who are the FARC?

  1. Cassman, Daniel. “Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army.” Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army | Mapping Militant Organizations. Stanford University, 15 Aug. 2015. Web. Academic Article. English.

Overview of the FARC including geographic locations, leadership, ideology and goals, political activities and more.

2. “Who are the Farc?” BBC News. BBC, 24 Nov. 2016. Web. 08 May 2017News Article. English.

Who are the FARC?; How many FARC fighters are there?; How are they organized?; Why did they take up arms?; Was Colombia Peaceful before the FARC?; Who joined the FARC? ; Why do they fight?; How do they finance themselves?; Why did they join the peace process?

3.Inside a Farc rebel camp in Western Colombia” BBC News. BBC, 23 June 2016. Web. 11 May 2017. Video. English and Spanish

An intimate look inside of a FARC camp in the jungle at a time when they agreed to lay down arms. 

III. MISC

  1. Pachico, Julianne.The Lucky Ones: A Novel. , 2017. Print. Fiction. English. Or access through CML Libraries

Taking place between 1993 and 2018 in Colombia and New York City, The Lucky Ones is a prismatic tale of a group of characters whose lives intersect in often-unexpected ways and whose stories, taken together, provide a lens on the intensity of life in Colombia during the violent years of guerrilla insurgencies and corruption.

2Colombia, Cia, n.d., Web.,  Media. English

Country profile including Information on geography, military and security, transnational issues, people and society, downloadable maps, and additional resources.