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Democracy and civil war: The case of Colombia

Author

Listed:
  • Abbey Steele

    (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Livia I Schubiger

    (London School of Economics, UK)

Abstract

We argue that scholarship on the Colombian civil war can fertilize the research program on political violence and democracy in two ways. First, the Colombian case demonstrates that the scholarly research agenda on electoral violence should expand to incorporate a broader focus on democratic institutions. In the context of an ongoing civil war, democratic reforms in Colombia had a substantial impact on the dynamics of wartime violence. Second, the Colombian case showcases an overlooked danger of decentralization that, if implemented under the wrong conditions, can facilitate the capture of democratic institutions by political and criminal armed groups. These insights have important implications for the study of wartime democratic governance and state-building relevant both for the peace process between the Colombian government and the FARC, and for cases beyond Colombia.

Suggested Citation

  • Abbey Steele & Livia I Schubiger, 2018. "Democracy and civil war: The case of Colombia," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 35(6), pages 587-600, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:compsc:v:35:y:2018:i:6:p:587-600
    DOI: 10.1177/0738894218787780
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ch, Rafael & Shapiro, Jacob & Steele, Abbey & Vargas, Juan F., 2018. "Endogenous Taxation in Ongoing Internal Conflict: The Case of Colombia," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 112(4), pages 996-1015, November.
    2. Kuran, Timur, 1987. "Preference Falsification, Policy Continuity and Collective Conservatism," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 97(387), pages 642-665, September.
    3. Abbey Steele, 2011. "Electing Displacement: Political Cleansing in Apartad�, Colombia," HiCN Working Papers 96, Households in Conflict Network.
    4. Kalyvas, Stathis N. & Balcells, Laia, 2010. "International System and Technologies of Rebellion: How the End of the Cold War Shaped Internal Conflict," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 104(3), pages 415-429, August.
    5. Lars-Erik Cederman & Simon Hug & Lutz F. Krebs, 2010. "Democratization and civil war: Empirical evidence," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 47(4), pages 377-394, July.
    6. Hyde, Susan D. & Marinov, Nikolay, 2012. "Which Elections Can Be Lost?," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(2), pages 191-210, April.
    7. Abbey Steele, 2011. "Electing Displacement: Political Cleansing in Apartadó, Colombia," Documentos CEDE 8747, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    8. Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson & Rafael J. Santos, 2013. "The Monopoly Of Violence: Evidence From Colombia," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 11, pages 5-44, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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