1. Memory, Culture, Violence in Post Conflict policies. Case of Colombia
Norma Fonseca
University of Aberdeen
March 2012

2. CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PEACEBUILDING
THE THEORY
CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PEACEBUILDING
Restructuring of the social, political and economic dynamics after and during the cessation of fire.
HOW?
WHY?
To help the country
restart life!!!
-DDR
-Democratic Reconstruction
-State Reform
-The Encouragement of Foreign Investment
-Strengthening the Civil Society
-Maintaining the Rule of law

3. BUT…. WHAT ABOUT THE COLOMBIAN CASE?

4. International Big Picture?
Colombia ?
International Big Picture?

6. WHO IS INVOLVED IN COLOMBIAN DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM?
What do they want?
Greed and Grievance, Collier?
DEMOCRATIC SECURITY
POLICY
GOVERNMENT
URIBE-SANTOS
AUC
FARC
ELN
COLOMBIAN
CIVIL SOCIETY

7. 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“.

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

10. 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’’.

11. SO, WHAT COULD THE SOLUTION BE? AND HOW? POST CONFLICT? PEACE?

12. Shall we fight for the monopoly of Violence? For a stable peace?
First…
CULTURE
VIOLENCE
Monopoly?
-Shape the way of life
-“War of all against all”(Hobbes)
Shall we fight for the monopoly of Violence? For a stable peace?
Identity
Memory
“Me", "Us” and “The others”
“Conflict narrative”
Political and social Representatives
Experiences

13. 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

14. In practice?

18. Is it possible that a peace building process in Colombia can ever succeed?
What is the role of civil society in this process?

19. 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?

20. QUESTIONS?