Colombia Internacional

Colomb. int. | eISSN 1900-6004 | ISSN 0121-5612

Subsidiary Orders. Coca, Emeralds: War and Peace

No. 67 (2008-01-01)
  • Francisco Gutiérrez
    *Francisco Gutiérrez es PhD. en Ciencia Política de la Universidad de Varsovia, docente e investigador del Instituto de Estudios Políticos y Relaciones Internacionales (IEPRI) de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Correo electrónico: fgutiers@hotmail.com
  • Mauricio Barón
    **Mauricio Barón es antropólogo y estudiante de la Maestría en Historia de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, y actualmente se desempeña como investigador del proyecto “Economic Liberalization, Politics, and War” del IDRCCanadá. Correo electrónico: mauriciobv53@hotmail.com
https://doi.org/10.7440/colombiaint67.2008.05

Abstract

This article explains how the emerald and coca economies are ingrained in the Colombian conflict. We interpret the mechanisms that generate conflict or peace, order or disorder. Our analysis is supported on Richard Snyder’s model which offers analytical elements to understand how violent reaction and raw products exports correlate with each other. We conclude that the described economies have had very violent courses but have also opened up specific paths to peace, of which the prerequisites are the denial of democratic freedom, privatization of public economies, and the endorsement and strengthening of illegal or semi-legal actors. We also offer a critical assessment of Snyder’s model.

Keywords: drug traffic, emeralds, Colombian armed conflict, peace, privatization of security

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