Memory, Culture, Violence in Post Conflict policies.

Case of Colombia

Norma FonsecaUniversity of Aberdeen

Normafonseca86@gmail.comMarch 2012

THE THEORY CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PEACEBUILDING

Restructuring of the social, political and economic dynamics after and during the cessation of fire.

HOW?

-DDR

-Democratic Reconstruction

-State Reform

-The Encouragement of Foreign Investment

-Strengthening the Civil Society

-Maintaining the Rule of law

WHY?To help the country

restart life!!!

BUT….

WHAT ABOUT THE COLOMBIAN CASE?

COLOMBIA ?

International Big Picture?

WHO IS INVOLVED IN COLOMBIAN DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM?

What do they want?

Greed and Grievance, Collier?

AUC FARC ELNDEMOCRATIC SECURITY

POLICYGOVERNMENT URIBE-SANTOS

COLOMBIAN

CIVIL SOCIETY

THE FACTS:

Peace Agreements (M 19)

Democratic System

Electoral Reform (2003)

Strength of left wing politics both in Colombia (Polo Democrático) and the region

Demobilization of some fronts of the ELN and AUC.

Popularity and policies of the current President, Alvaro Uribe Velez (Uribismo) and his Democratic Security Policy (Seguridad Democrática) continuity with Juan Manuel Santos.

Death of the highest rebel leaders of FARC , Manuel Marulanda ‘Tirofijo’ , Raul Reyes in 2008 and Alfonso Cano in 2011.

"The challenge of implementing post-conflict measures while there's still conflict“.

Demobilization of some of the paramilitary fronts. Remedios / Antioquia / CO / 2005

The leader of the most powerful Latin American insurgency,Manuel Marulanda, died of a heart attack in March 2008

"The Farc are irreversibly weakened and in decline," said Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos. (Now, Colombian president)"We are winning, but we cannot claim victory yet’’.

SO, WHAT COULD THE SOLUTION BE? AND HOW?

POST CONFLICT?

PEACE?

First…

CULTURE VIOLENCE Monopoly?

Identity

Memory

“Conflict narrative”

Experiences

-Shape the way of life-“War of all against

all”(Hobbes)

“Me", "Us” and “The others”

Political and social Representatives

Shall we fight for the

monopoly of Violence? For a stable peace?

IN THEORY,

POST CONFLICT POLICIES.

Investments and Economical Progress International Image Security and Defence policies Plan Colombia (anti-drug) Strength in Civil Society Cross Border Policies Private Sector and Social Responsibility Culture of Terror and Memory National Identity

In practice?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0me7t7wXKLw

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15815524

Is it possible that a peace building process in Colombia can ever succeed?

What is the role of civil society in this process?

Final Issues

National psyche : Collective amnesia vs. Collective anaesthesia

”Fear, an emotion that is individually experienced, socially constructed and cultural shared” (Ria no-Alcala 2006)

Literature, media and cultural objects in a conflict context. (Lindsay, 2003)

Is Colombia inside a Labyrinth? What could change if some voices were just listened to? (Democratic security?)

A cease-fire is the easiest way. The re-construction of a nation and to rebuild trust between us is the most complex issue. When? How?

QUESTIONS?