Colombia A Concise Contemporary History

by LaRosa, Michael J.; Mejía, Germán R.; Murray, Pamela S.

• ISBN13: 9781442209350
• ISBN10: 1442209356
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-04-05
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

Written by two leading historians, this deeply informed and accessible book traces the history of Colombia thematically, covering the past two centuries of the nation's history. In ten interlinked chapters, Michael J. LaRosa andGermán R. Mejía depart from more standard approaches by presenting a history of political, social, and cultural accomplishments within the context of Colombia's specific geographic and economic realities. Their emphasis on cultural development, international relations, and everyday life contrasts sharply with works that focus only on Colombia's violent past or dwell on a Colombian economy deeply dependent on narcotics-a tragic nation that barely functions. Instead, the authors emphasize Colombia's remarkable national cohesion and endurance since the early nineteenth century wars for independence. Including a photo essay, detailed chronology, and resource guide, this concise yet thorough history will be an invaluable resource for all those seeking a thoughtful, definitive interpretation of Colombia's contemporary history.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
Foreword	p. xiii
Introduction	p. xvii
Origins	p. 1
The Crisis of Empire	p. 2
1810: The Development of the Juntas	p. 5
The First Republic (1811-1816)	p. 10
The Final Battle against Absolutism	p. 13
Colombia: The Second Republic (1819-1830)	p. 16
The End of an Era of Change	p. 18
The Colombian Nations	p. 21
Colombian Indigenous Population	p. 22
The Afro-Colombian Population	p. 26
Other Colombians	p. 28
Demography and Its Numbers	p. 29
Colonizers and Settlers: The Nineteenth Century	p. 32
An Urban Country: The Twentieth Century	p. 37
The Dynamics of a Political Community	p. 41
Citizenship	p. 43
Rights	p. 45
The Democratic Model and Politics	p. 47
Government	p. 51
The Formation of Law	p. 55
The Cadence of Unity	p. 57
The Parties and the Nation	p. 58
Communion in Beliefs	p. 63
A Common Memory	p. 67
A Single Institutionalism	p. 70
Conflict	p. 75
The Spanish Evacuation	p. 76
Political Conflict in the Nineteenth Century	p. 77
Panama Separates	p. 80
Conflict in the Twentieth Century	p. 82
La Violencia	p. 85
Insurgency Intervention	p. 87
Narco-violence	p. 90
Plan Colombia, 2000	p. 91
Photo Essay	p. 97
Economic Unity	p. 131
Colonial Colombia Compared	p. 132
Monopoly and Political Problems in the Eighteenth Century	p. 133
Coffee	p. 136
The Percolating Twenties	p. 139
Oil and Industrialization	p. 141
The National Front	p. 142
Modern Times	p. 144
A Common Space	p. 147
From Horse Path to Highway	p. 149
Steamships and Railways	p. 152
Aerial Cables and Airplanes	p. 156
Mail and Communications Systems	p. 157
Print Media	p. 160
Cultural Dynamism	p. 163
Sculpture and Painting	p. 164
Literature	p. 168
Theater	p. 173
Architecture	p. 175
Music	p. 177
Daily Life	p. 181
Popular Religious Celebrations	p. 182
Sports	p. 184
Beauty Pageants	p. 187
Retaking the Colombian Urban Centers	p. 188
Radio, TV, and Soap Operas	p. 191
Gastronomy, Colombian Style	p. 193
University Life in Colombia	p. 194
Colombia and the World	p. 197
The Early Days	p. 198
The Canal Project	p. 200
1928	p. 202
World War II and Jorge Eliécer Gaitán	p. 204
Korea and the Alliance for Progress	p. 207
Pope Paul VI and the Close of the 1960s	p. 209
Contadora, Central America, and Colombia's Neighbors	p. 210
Uribe and Bush: Brothers in Arms	p. 213
Enter Santos	p. 215
Conclusion	p. 217
Colombian Chronology, 1810-1991	p. 221
Selected Bibliography	p. 253
Index	p. 257
About the Authors	p. 265
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