English Version
Arthur Miller said that “a good newspaper is a nation speaking to itself,” one could then say that a good academic journal must be a nation speaking for itself. Colombia Internacional in its early days (1985-1986) started a dialogue on how Colombia saw —and spoke— to the world then: its original format before becoming a journal was a “Bi-annual Letter” devoted to the dissemination of Colombian foreign policy and international politics in general. The “Bi-annual Letter” managed four issues1. In its editorial evolution, it sought, in 1987, the design of a more academic publication that would closely reflect a comprehension of Colombia’s role on the world stage to elucidate topics that would in some way have an impact, through theory and debate, on the country’s foreign policy. Since 1988, another new stage of the journal began, with a quarterly edition and four sections: Colombian Foreign Policy, International Economic Relations, World Politics and Documents; these four sections —in the journal’s new methodological and analytical scheme— were gathered under the suggestive title of “analysis of the current juncture”.
In the “Editorial” of Colombia International (January-March, 1988, Number 1), the magazine was defined as “a pluralist publication, open to controversy and aimed at elevating the academic and national discussion on international issues,” where the then editor ventured that the country was entering an era of modernization of national life, with ever-larger participation in the global scene; thus it was necessary for there to be a publication —like this one— that afforded some intellectual, scientific and academic depth to knowledge about Colombia’s relations with the world, to make possible the “exercise of a more independent conduct of the country on the world stage”.
The section “Foreign Policy of Colombia” first appeared in that Issue 1, with Rodrigo Pardo, at the time deputy director of the Center for International Studies of the Universidad de los Andes and co-founder of Colombia Internacional, publishing his article “New Scenarios of the Foreign Policy of Colombia”. He spoke of the new realities that Colombia needed to face, in a system of nations quite different from the one where it had traditionally been inserted, leading the Barco Vargas administration to redefine its foreign policy. Among the striking elements of his article, his analysis of the “Colombian-Venezuelan dispute around the Gulf of Venezuela” stood out as a priority issue in the Colombian president’s agenda, as did economic issues, where Pardo noted that Colombia’s foreign policy should place emphasis on its most important counterparts: the United States, the Pacific Basin and Venezuela, “the main determinants of the priorities of the Foreign Ministry”.
The “International Economic Relations” section was inaugurated by Mauricio Reina, a researcher at the School of Economics at the Universidad de los Andes, with his article “The Lost Caribbean”, a consideration of the Reagan Administration in reference to the Caribbean region, and of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) as the core of his article. His paper offered several analytical-comparative tables on the Caribbean countries (area, population, GNP, demographic expectations, illiteracy rate, etc.), as well as tables on total US imports with the beneficiary countries of the CBI; that is, we have here an article that tried to mediate between information on international relations, and academic-scientific issues. There was still no critical bibliographic apparatus, or a system for citations, but the magazine was gradually acquiring its definitive aspect.
The “World Politics” section was launched by Christian Boudier, professor and researcher at the former Institute for Higher Studies for Development, with a paper fully immersed in the final stage of the Cold War: “The consequences of the Reagan-Gorbachev agreement in France. The era of paradoxes?” His article analyzes the function of President Mitterrand in his role as mediator for the dialogue on denuclearization and the resistance inside his own cabinet —A. Giraud, his defense minister— to France’s promoting nuclear disarmament, because it “weakens the US-Europe connection.”
In the same section, “World Politics”, Francisco Leal Buitrago and Juan Gabriel Tokatlian, the latter a co-founder —along with Rodrigo Pardo and Fernando Cepeda Ulloa—of the journal Colombia Internacional and director-founder of the Center for International Studies (CIS) at the Universidad de los Andes, continued with a study also submerged —how could it not be?— in the Cold War era: “The Reagan-Gorbachev accord and Latin America”, where they analyzed the global economic crisis, which forced the United States and the Soviet Union to reduce their multimillion-dollar military expenditure. The United States then signed the “agreement” in Washington, an “historic pact” to devote themselves to the task of that “saving” which was at bottom a promise of peace, “which can revert —the authors averred— the trend toward rearmament observed since the Second World War.” The authors are analyzing —perhaps presaging— the death rattle of the Cold War.
The section “Documents” carried a complete transcription of the Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the elimination of its medium- and short- range missiles, precisely the document that underpins Tokatlian’s and Leal Buitrago’s analysis.
At its first stage, Colombia Internacional was the organ for academic outreach of the Center for International Studies, CIS of the Universidad de los Andes. One could say that the journal had a previous era that began with Issue number 2, of September 1985 —noted above— and lasted until June 4, 1986; however, consecutive numbering resumed from Issue number 1 in 1988, the edition just reviewed. That is, there were two births, but never a death between them. In this Issue 2, prior to Issue 1, and three years in advance, there were articles by Rodrigo Pardo, as coordinator, Jaime Estévez, Luis Carlos Valenzuela, Henry Kissinger, Bruce M. Bagley —with Juan Gabriel Tokatlián— and Gabriel Silva Luján. The journal was in letter format, with about 14 pages.
From Issue 5, of the “second birth” (January-March, 1989) onward, it became somewhat more robust, with about 39 pages, in letter format and maintaining the same four sections. It was published like this until Issue 12 (October-December 1990).
The third publishing evolution ensued with Issue 13 (January-March, 1991). After six years, this issue changed its format significantly: a poster board cover in four colors —orange, blue-gray, white and black— with the CIS logos visible in the lower left corner and the Universidad de los Andes logo on the right. After this issue —a far more elaborate one— the journal was printed and distributed by Tercer Mundo Editores.
In addition, the “Global Issues” section, premiered by Alejandro Valencia, then a researcher at the Colombian Section of the Andean Commission of Jurists and the CIS, presented his paper “The protection of the law of armed conflicts in light of the Gulf War.” A section was added at the end of the magazine as of Issue 13, outlining the periodical publications of the CEI. Issue 14, which followed (April-June 1991), carried a noteworthy item: in its upper right corner: the price of the magazine, then 1,200 pesos.
Issue 17 (January-March, 1992) should also be taken as another key moment in the evolution of Colombia Internacional, because this issue acquired the ISSN (International Standard Number of Serial Publications); it may seem trivial but this is the ID of Colombia Internacional (0121-5612), remaining the same up to the present. The ISSN appeared to the left of the price as of the journal’s 17th issue.
Until Issue 35 (July-September, 1996) we saw no changes in the editorial evolution; however, in this issue the first thematic expansion of the magazine appears in its index, with a paper departing from the sphere of international relations, global studies and the analysis of Colombian foreign policy; a political science paper by Lawrence Boudon —then assistant professor at the Department of Political Science of the Universidad de los Andes: “Towards a theory of new political parties,” auguring a new academic-editorial identity for the future of Colombia Internacional, a broader framework of political science where not only global studies and international relations predominated. It was the harbinger of a new evolution of Colombia Internacional, evident in Issue 37.
The 37th issue (January-March, 1997) of the journal grew to 70 pages, the cover underwent design changes —now with violet, red and white— the logos of the CEI and the University of the Andes were moved and the title also identified the author or authors of each article. Inside, there was now a “Letter to the readers” from the CIS. This “Letter” made explicit what the 35th issue had presaged: opening the journal to political science issues —beyond international relations— by explaining that Colombia Internacional which until now had been “oriented to the debate of issues related to international relations”, would be merged with Documento Ocasionales, a publication “conceived with the intention of publishing works of high academic level around theoretical-conceptual issues”. Documentos Ocasionales had been published continuously since 1988 and was also part of the CIS. The 4 sections of Colombia Internacional were eliminated, for reasons the letter states: “to give greater agility to the publication of the journal.” With both journals now merged, the term Colombia Internacional began to make more sense, as a multi-focus political science publication.
Issue 39 (October-December, 1997), a “Special Edition”, contained a “Presentation” of the CIS announcing that the issue was devoted to the Asia-Pacific region and the Pacific cooperation mechanisms, given Colombia’s role in the “current moment of globalization”. The body of the articles was based on the papers presented at the seminar “The PECC as an instrument of Colombian foreign policy. Development of the Asia Pacific markets. ” This issue, as well as the fundamental early numbers of Colombia Internacional, was supported by the Ford Foundation.
Number 40 (October-December, 1997) registered another change, the body of the magazine increased to 85 pages, as if announcing a transformation that has been kept until the present: the 41st issue (January-March, 1998) was in a half letter template —the one we have today— chromatic harmony was more sober —petroleum blue— with a body of 94 pages. The “Presentation” of this number announced the definitive merger of Colombia Internacional and Documentos Ocasionales, preserving until today the name of the first.
Number 52 (May-August, 2001) Colombia Internacional introduced the next innovation in the journal’s evolution. It kept the same format (since the change in size and color of the 41st issue), but in a definitive step, was now catalogued as an indexed scientific publication: the National Index of Colombian Scientific and Technological Serial Publications, Sociological Abstracts, Social Services Abstracts and the Worldwide Political Sciences Abstracts. The magazine began to position itself in the sphere of scientific-academic publications with the most competitive social science indexes, its most distinctive feature among Colombian journals to this day. This issue also communicated for the first time guidelines for publication that authors must apply when constructing the critical apparatus of their articles; as well as the fact that hereafter their texts underwent a peer review process. As of this issue, the cover stated that Colombia Internacional was published by both the CIS and the Department of Political Science.
There were two transitional issues of Colombia International (56-57, September-June 2002-2003) where the cover changed, the name of the magazine and the number were added to the spine and the following sections were created: “Analysis”, “New Perspectives”, “The Current Juncture” and “Documents”. The internal layout underwent significant changes, the internal design was enriched and images were added to the articles. There would be a “Publisher’s Note” by Arlene B. Tickner, explaining that the journal had achieved 15 years of uninterrupted publication; and a new era was announced, with the bi-annual publication of what had previously been a quarterly. This issue was dedicated to Dora Röthlisberger Fischbacher (1941-2003), who was a professor in the Department of Political Science, with a response about her by Gabriel Murillo: “A Builder of Citizens”, Bogotá, August 2003.
From very early issues, the head of the Center for International Studies acted as editor of Colombia Internacional, which had no ex officio director. As of the transition issue (including Issues 56 and 57 of 2002-2003) when Ann Mason became director and Arlene B. Tickner editor. Director Ann Mason also became director of the CIS; however, at this point Colombia Internacional was no longer published by the CIS alone, but by an academic appointed for that function, in this case, as stated, Arlene B. Tickner. The new academic-scientific era of periodic publications at this level began to demand more specialized functions for this type of journal.
Issue 58 (June-December, 2003) dramatically changed the cover, now a design expressly related to the content; the format of a monographic dossier, predominated until Issue 72 —with a brief interlude of special issues— that continued until Issue 78. This 58th issue titled (Latin America: Turbulent Democracies) reproduced the results of the uniandino forum “Latin America: Turbulent Democracies.”
The 65th issue (January-June, 2007) announced on the cover the creation of the magazine’s Web page, and the index appeared in Spanish and English. From then on, there would be articles in English, as well as headings in both languages. By this time the magazine had further indexation, and was referenced in larger directories: Publindex, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences-IBSS, Worldwide Political Sciences Abstracts, CSA-ProQuest, EBSCO Information Services, Thomson Gale, Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory PRYSMA-ProQuest, Latin American Citations in Social Sciences and Humanities, CLASS, UNAM, Regional Information System Online for Scientific Journals of Latin America and the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal, RedALyC UAEM, SciELO, Scientific Electronic Library Online, DOAJ, Ocenet, DIALNET, CIBERA and the German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
Again, there was a change of cover in Issue 70 (July-December, 2009), perhaps trying for a more compact image, with a single color as a kind of frame around a white center with black lettering. Articles and authors appeared on the cover, and now the institutional heading showed that Colombia Internacional is a publication of the Department of Political Science. Because of this change of cover, font and design, there appeared a short article by Miguel Olaya in the 70th issue titled “The new design of Colombia Internacional” (pp. 231-235) where he succinctly explained the journal’s progress, in particular the evolution in the use of fonts and the reason for using those from that issue onward. From this issue, too, Portuguese became the third language the journal accepted for articles, thus expanding the scope of its impact.
The journal was re-designed with the 75th issue (July-December, 2012), a single image took over the entire cover; accompanying the monograph China and its Political Relations with Latin America. The image was a photo of a half-dozen Chinese paper umbrellas. From this moment on, the content of the journal was included on the back cover. The magazine now recorded the DOI (Digital Object Identification) number for articles. The director was Angelika Rettberg and the editors Laura Wills Otero and Miguel García Sánchez. Also, in the evolution of Colombia Internacional, we must point out its inclusion, from Issue 75, in the SCOPUS, Database of Abstracts and Citation for Scholarly Journal Articles. This monograph was the most robust —until then— of the entire collection, with 363 pages.
Issue 77 (January-April, 2013) announced that now there would be a new issue every quarter. This monograph Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-combatants: Politics and Actors of the Post-Conflict maintained the previous design. It included, as a novelty, a list of the academics who reviewed the issue. Its director was Angelika Rettberg and its editor, Laura Wills Otero. The 78th issue (May-August, 2013) was “Open Topic”, beginning a stage where the 4 annual issues alternated between a dossier and open topics. We are now close to the current conception of Colombia Internacional as the scientific-academic political science journal it is today, in its centenary number.
The “eighties” of Colombia Internacional (specifically Issues 81 to 87), were the last stage in external and internal design before the current version, with minimal variations. We have seen the quarterly alternation of monographs and free topic issues up to the present. From Issue 90, the director of Colombia International has been Laura Wills Otero, and the editor for nine consecutive issues has been Mariana Delgado Barón (90-99).
Colombia Internacional, thanks to a confluence of factors and attitudes (discipline, perseverance, specialization, rigor, continual reinvention) has managed to be —paraphrasing Arthur Miller— a good magazine speaking from Colombia for Colombia. During various publishing stages our journal was supported by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation of Colombia (Issue 2, 1985), the Ford Foundation (Issue 1 of its new phase since 1988), the Andean Development Corporation (Issue 58, 2003 ), the Latin American Program of the Woodrow Wilson Center, and —again— the Ford Foundation (Issue 60, 2004), and the Center for Latin American Studies of the University of Miami (Issue 61, 2005), among other associations supporting academic and scientific endeavors. Today Colombia Internacional is present in the most important repositories, indexes and catalogues, making the journal a notable forum for debating Political Science issues in Latin America. It is also a magazine that acts as an intellectual, scientific and academic guarantee of the Department of Political Science, the School of Social Sciences and, of course, the Universidad de los Andes itself.
Colombia Internacional is part of the four indexed journals of the School of Social Sciences; Historia Crítica, Revista de Estudios Sociales y and Antípoda. This publishing tetralogy is the guarantee of the de-compartmentalized and multidisciplinary dialogue of this School, for these journals through their four publishers, coexist in a single venue in a process of constant inter-disciplinary consultation: Colombia Internacional constitutes an expanded political science in its diversity of prisms and approaches; Historia Crítica is current historiographic debate of the currents and trends of contemporary history; Revista de Estudios Sociales fulfills the transdisciplinary function of bringing together the scientific-social discussion including all the approaches of this aspect of science; Antípoda contributes with the analytical diversity and approaches of anthropology and archeology.
These journals, like the other indexed journals of the University, have been housed since September 2007 on a first-level academic platform, for the purpose of assuring the reading public, not only the quality of its contents, but efficient —and simple— navigation with search engines that offer researchers links with contents located on other sites but easily accessed from this one. This last project is first of its kind in Latin America. Indeed, added to this, it is noteworthy that Colombia Internacional has reached 100 issues, a journey which, in addition to its scientific-editorial evolution, embodies - behind the scenes - an academic commitment to the region: on the one hand becoming a highly specialized journal of political science; and on the other, maintaining an academic dialogue in, from and with all of Latin America, seeking to be a reference for publishing continuity, scientific rigor and permanence.
From its beginnings until 2017 the directors of the Department of Political Science were by default also directors of Colombia Internacional, and its editors were professors at the Department. In 2017, a dedicated position was designed for a journal-wide editor, with a solid academic profile (political scientist, PhD in the field) and working for Colombia Internacional exclusively.
Directors and editors (1985-2019)
Rodrigo Pardo (coordinator, 1985), Juan Gabriel Tokatlian (director –CEI– and of Colombia International)
Cristina Barrera (editor, 1989)
* When the editor is the CIS, we note the editorial committee for the period (*): Ana Mercedes Botero, Rodrigo Pardo, Mauricio Reina, José Luis Ramírez, Manuel Rodríguez, Eduardo Sarmiento, Juan Gabriel Tokatlian and Alejandro Valencia. The director of the CIS was also director of Colombia International: Juan Gabriel Tokatlian until 1994; Francisco Thoumi until 1996; Rafael Rivas Posada until 1997; Rodrigo Pardo García-Peña and Gary Hoskin until 1998, when Arlene B. Tickner became CIS director.
* In 1990 Marta Osorio, Liliana Obregón, Carlo Nasi and Diego Cardona joined the editorial committee.
* In 1991 Arlene Tickner joined the editorial committee.
* In 1993 Leonardo Carvajal, Mary Figueroa, María del Rosario García and Paulina Zuleta joined.
* In 1994 Alexis De Greiff, María Dolores de Espino, Diana Pardo, Paula Peña and Francisco Thoumi joined.
* In 1995 María Eugenia Mujica.
* In 1996 Ana María Muriel Solórzano and Rafael Rivas Posada.
* In 1997 Sandra Borda.
* In 1998 Marcela Londoño, later Bruce M. Bagley and Francisco Leal Buitrago.
* In 1999 Dora Röthlisberger.
* In 2001 Ann Mason.
As of 2002, the posts of director and editor were properly established
Ann Mason (director, 2002-2005)
Arlene B. Tickner (editor, 2002-2005)
Maria Emma Wills (director, 2005-2008)
Marcela Velasco Jaramillo (editor, 2007-2008)
Felipe Botero (editor, 2008-2010)
Angelika Rettberg (director, 2009-2013)
Miguel García Sánchez and Laura Wills Otero (editors, 2010)
Laura Wills Otero (editor, 2012-2015)
Juan Carlos Rodríguez-Raga (director, 2013-2016)
Carlo Nasi (editor, 2015-2017)
Laura Wills (director, 2017-to date)
Mariana Delgado Barón (editor, 2017-2019)
Alejandro Cardozo Uzcátegui (editor since 2019)