Colombia : a risk-prone democracy

Abstract

This thesis assesses the prospect for democracy in Colombia. In a single case study. the thesis argues that Colombia is a democracy at risk. The work attempts to answer the following questions: Wily. alter four decades of democratic processes has Colombia's political society failed to achieve hill democratization? els Colombia vulnerable to democratic breakdown? What possible policy actions could the United States explore that would assist in halting Colombia's downward democratic spiral? The thesis argues that the magnitude of the challenge of coping with ever-increasing levels of social violence. civil disorder, corruption, narco-trafficking and insurgency is threatening the very fabric of civil and political society. The breakdown of democracy in Colombia could affect democratic institutions throughout the area. This single event - a non-democratic Colombia - would alter the balance of power in Latin America and significantly affect current U.S. policy in the region.