Between Legitimacy And Violence

by Palacios, Marco; Stoller, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780822337676
• ISBN10: 0822337673
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-06-30
• Publisher: Duke Univ Pr

Summary

Between Legitimacy and Violence is an authoritative, sweeping history of Colombia's "long twentieth century," from the tumultuous civil wars of the late nineteenth century to the drug wars of the late twentieth. Marco Palacios, a leading Latin American historian, skilfully blends political, economic, social, and cultural history. In an expansive chronological narrative full of vivid detail, he explains Colombia's political history, discussing key leaders, laws, parties, and ideologies; corruption and inefficiency; and the paradoxical nature of government institutions, which while stable and enduring are unable to prevent frequent and extreme outbursts of violence. Palacios traces the trajectory of the economy, addressing agriculture (particularly the economic significance of coffee), the development of a communication and transportation infrastructure, industrialization, and labour struggles. Palacios also gives extensive attention to persistent social inequalities, the role of the Catholic Church, demographic shifts such as urbanization and emigration, and Colombia's relationship with the United States. Offering a comparative perspective, he frequently contrasts Colombia with other Latin American nations. Throughout Palacios offers a helpful interpretive framework, connecting developments with their causes and consequences. By thoroughly illuminating Colombia's past, Between Legitimacy and Violence sheds much-needed light on the country's violent present.

Author Biography

Marco Palacios is Professor of Latin American History at El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City.

Table of Contents

Tables	viii
Acknowledgments	ix
Prologue to the Second Colombian Edition	xi
Chapter 1 From Liberal Decay to Regeneration	1	(47)
Chapter 2 Liberal Economics, Conservative Politics	48	(45)
Chapter 3 From the Expansion of Citizenship to the Plutocratic Elite	93	(62)
Chapter 4 In the Shadow of the Violencia	155	(15)
Chapter 5 An Elusive Legitimacy	170	(44)
Chapter 6 Great Transformations within Continuity	214	(32)
Epilogue	246	(23)
Bibliographical Essay	269	(24)
Index	293