Democracy Put to the Test: The Unique Situation of the Colombian Political System
This week’s readings were centered on the relatively recent wave of democratization in Latin America that has occurred since the 1990s. Manwairing explained how this wave of democratization was extremely unique and went against many theoretical models of how democratization occurs. Going along with the unique nature of the democratization process in Latin America are the unique problems many of these democracies face today. Perhaps no other country has gone through more growing pains trying to maintain a stable democracy than Colombia. Its civil war has shown how difficult it is to maintain a democracy under certain conditions, and the current relationship between the FARC separatists and the Colombian government as they try to reach an uneasy peace presents a very intriguing situation from a democratization perspective.
The Colombian Civil War has not marked a breakdown of Colombian democracy. Rather, it has tested the strength of the country’s democracy and personifies the difficulty of maintaining a democracy under certain adverse conditions. The persistence of a militant separatist movement centered on a political ideology has forced the Colombian government to walk a line between maintaining the peace within the country, protecting civilians, and avoiding ideological repressiveness.
Recent developments in the relationship between the Colombian government and the FARC present an extremely intriguing and unique situation with regard to stability, democracy, and political parties. Very recently, there has been a breakthrough in these relations, and the government and separatist forces have reached a ceasefire. Now, the country is going through a unique process: attempting to integrate an ideology that has been militant into the political system.
This process tests the democratic backbone of Colombia on multiple fronts. The first of these tests will occur next week, when the Colombians will vote on the ceasefire in an October 2 plebiscite. If the Colombian population approves the deal, things will likely go along smoothly. However, if the majority of Colombians vote against the deal, the government could have its hands tied trying to maintain a peace it has worked hard to achieve while supporting the decision the democratic institution has made. If Colombians shoot down the ceasefire, it would mark a clear problem in the democratic system. Clearly, it is in Columbia’s best interest to have peace. However, leaving the final decision to individuals in the populace could lead to a rejection of this peace because the nature of the conflict. Being a civil war, this conflict is close to home for many Colombians. This could lead to extremely harsh feelings toward the FARC among individuals in the Colombian populace. These feelings could lead many Colombians to reject the referendum, still wanting to destroy the FARC rather than urging both sides to lay down their arms. Hopefully, the majority of Colombians are weary from war and willing to put aside their hatred in favor of peace. However, if this does not happen, it would mark a clear issue with allowing the populace to make the final call on such a unique situation. Individuals in the populace can allow personal feelings to cloud their decision making on the greater good.
The second test will occur if the Colombian populace approves the ceasefire. This will involve normalizing the FARC into the political system. The FARC has been clear that it intends to become a political party once a peace is reached. This process will be very challenging for a variety of reasons. First, there are the bitter relations that result from years of conflict. Can the hatred that has existed between the FARC and the Colombian political mainstream pivot from the militant war that has gone on for years to a somewhat civil discourse? Another issue is physically demilitarizing the FARC. For years, the group has been an openly militant guerilla movement. Even if its leaders want peace, will they be able to convince their thousands of followers, many of whom likely possess their own personal hatreds, to lay down their arms?
The democratic system in Colombia is currently undergoing a test that will define the direction of the country as well as the legacy of the system itself. If a peace is reached and the peacemaking process goes on relatively smoothly, it would be a display of democratic strengths. However, if somehow this peace breaks down, it may create many questions with regard to the success of democracy within the country.