Weak states vs.

strong
states
State strength = ability of government to
command loyalty and trust from the people. –
Kalevi J. Holsti

Two important factors:

Vertical legitimacy
Horizontal legitimacy
 Vertical and horizontal
legitimacy
Based on:
Social contract between state and society
Societal participation in public decision
Agreement in rules of the political game
Sovereignty
Clear distinctions between public service and
public gain
Colombia is a weak state
Reason proposed:
Conservative and Liberal parties-
 Original formation prevented “territorial
fragmentation” and created a nationally unifying
force for the people
 HOWEVER

 War of a Thousand Days

 El Bogotazo

Geography of country
 Absence of legal authority in many regions
 Allows formation of parastate actors
 Presidencies
United States:
Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)
George Bush (1989-1993)
Bill Clinton (1993-2001)
George W. Bush (2001-present)
Colombia:
Virgilio Barco (1986-1990)
Cesar Gaviria (1990-1994)
Ernesto Samper (1994-1998)
Andres Pastrana (1998-2002)
Alvaro Uribe (2002-present)
 1981-1989
Reagan (1981-1989)
 April 1986-
 National Security Decision
Directive 221
 Mandated military
involvement of the armed
forces
 Supply-side actions:
illegalization of drugs, crop
fumigation, eradication
 Demand-side actions:
penalization of the traffic,
distribution, and
consumption of narcotics
Barco (1986-1990)
Asserted independence
from United States
 Emphasized relations
with other regions of the
world
 Preservation of
Colombian autonomy
However
Faithful ally to the U.S. in
the war on drugs
Hardline approach
 1990-1994
Bush Sr. (1989-1993) Gaviria (1990-1994)
Andean Initiative  Priority to Colombia’s
foreign economic relations
 Not a hard-line approach
 Clear distinction between
narco-terrorism and the
drug traffic
 1990 Plea bargaining
system
 1991Constitutional
Assembly
 Prohibition of extradition
of Colombian nationals
 1992-Pablo Escobar
escapes but is killed in Dec
1993
 May 1994- legalization of
 1994-1998
Clinton (1993-2008)
 In campaign-
 Plans to refocus efforts on
demand-based strategies
 In office-
 Decreases drug-related
assistance to Andean
region
 1994-criticized for soft-line
approach
 1998- Approved the
Western Hemisphere Drug
Elimination Act
 Refers to Colombia as
“narco-democracy” not
“ally.”
Samper (1994-1998)
Campaign fraud
Colombian govt.
acknowledges
responsibility of state in
the Trujillo massacres
Human rights policies
created but given
secondary status to
military support.
Resists U.S. pressure
with “survival strategy.”
Proceso 8000
 1998-2002
Clinton (1998-2001)
 Makes a pledge to support
Pastrana’s peace process
 Dec. 1998- Govt. officials
meet with FARC in Costa Rica
 Dec. 1998- US and Colombia
sign agreement to
strengthen military
 1999-military assistance
$289 million
 Stance hardened toward
peace process when FARC
murders 3 Americans.
 $1.6 billion aid package
proposed
 Dec. 2000- massive
fumigation
 2001-U.S. Report on Human
Pastrana (1998-2002)
 Campaign:
 Challenges wisdom of US
policies
 Presents peace plan,
promotes plans for trade
relations
 After FARC murders,
numerous officials resign.
 Pastrana’s approach is
‘soft’ on guerrillas
 To get U.S. aid, Pastrana
takes a more hard-line
approach and allows most
of aid to be diverted
towards militaristic goals.
 2000-armed strike by FARC
 Human rights
Jan. 1995: Samper govt. admits responsibility
for Trujillo massacres.
Sept. 1996: Leahy Amendment during Clinton
administration
Suspends military assistance to units implicated
in human rights violations
Clinton ignores Amendment and sells $169
million in military equipment to the Colombian
Army.
Dec. 2000 massive fumigation causes crop
loss and health issues.
2001 U.S. Report on Human Rights
 Organizing thoughts
Colombia is a weak state because there is a
lack of vertical and horizontal legitimacy-
Where is this articulated?
 Gaviria’s administration?

 Samper’s administration?

 Pastrana’s administration?