Violence in Colombia: the contemporary crisis in historical perspective

Colombia has long suffered under such violence that it is now one of the most convulsed societies in the world. Far from being the result of solely the drug trade, the country's contemporary crisis stems from La Violencia ("The Violence"), a period of terror, political banditry and peasant unrest that plagued Colombia between the 1940s and the 1960s. The 14 essays in this collection examine La Violencia and its effects on current conditions, placing today's violence in its historical context. The contributors are specialists in social science, history and related fields, from the United States, Colombia and other countries. They not only examine the roles played by the drug mafia, guerillas and class conflict, but also suggest reforms that will offer a fundamental challenge to Colombian society.