Colombia: A Concise Contemporary History

Michael J. LaRosa and Germán R. Mejía offer a comprehensive approach to Colombian history in the post-independence era, from about 1810 to the present. This third edition includes vital updates that dive into the historic 2022 presidential election and signing of the Peace Accords with FARC in 2016. This deeply informed and accessible book thematically traces the history of Colombia, moving beyond the common perception of a failed state to explore the rich heritage and dynamism that have characterized Colombia past and present. The book focuses on the factors that have contributed to Colombia’s unification and development and looks at political projects, economic activity, and cultural development that have pushed Colombia forward. Also included are a photo essay, detailed chronology for further study and research, and a chapter dealing with Colombians abroad.

Table of Contents:
Contents Acknowledgments Foreword by Pamela S. Murray Introduction 1 Origins Precedents The Crisis of Empire 1810: The Development of the Juntas The First Republic (1811–1816) The Final Battle against Absolutism Colombia: The Second Republic (1819–1830) The End of an Era of Change 2 The Colombian Nations Colombian Indigenous Population The Afro-Colombian Population Other Colombians Demography and Its Numbers Colonizers and Settlers: The Nineteenth Century An Urban Country: The Twentieth Century 3 The Dynamics of a Political Community Citizenship Rights The Democratic Model and Politics Government The Formation of Law 4 The Cadence of Unity The Parties and the Nation Communion in Beliefs A Common Memory A Single Institutionalism 5 Conflict The Spanish Evacuation Political Conflict in the Nineteenth Century Panama Separates Conflict in the Twentieth Century La Violencia Insurgency Intervention Narco-violence Plan Colombia, 2000 6 Colombians Search for Peace The Nature of the Colombian Armed Conflict The Stages of the War The Peace Processes in Historic Perspective The Future 7 Economic Unity Colonial Colombia Compared Monopoly and Political Problems in the Eighteenth Century Coffee The Percolating Twenties Oil and Industrialization The National Front Modern Times Photo Essay 8 A Common Space From Horse Path to Highway Steamships and Railways Aerial Cables and Airplanes Mail and Communications Systems Print Media 9 Cultural Dynamism Sculpture and Painting Literature Theater Architecture Music 10 Daily Life Popular Religious Celebrations Sports Beauty Pageants Retaking the Colombian Urban Centers Radio, TV, and Soap Operas Gastronomy, Colombian Style University Life in Colombia 11 Colombia and the World The Early Days The Canal Project 1928 World War II and Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Korea and the Alliance for Progress Pope Paul VI and the Close of the 1960s Contadora, Central America, and Colombia’s Neighbors Uribe and Bush: Brothers in Arms Enter Santos 12 Colombians Abroad Preliminary Observations on Colombian Emigration Why Colombians Leave: A Historic Overview Bienvenidos to Queens The 1980 Refugee Act The Special Case of Colombians in Venezuela Remesas—Sending Money Home Colombians Abroad: Some Names Some Sustained (and Unfortunate) Stereotypes Peace Process and the Great Reverse Migration? 13. 2016 and Beyond: ¡Basta Ya! The Elusive Peace The Pandemic Economic Data Migratory Processes Trouble on the Streets of Colombia Tourism: The Contemporary Trend Conclusion Colombian Chronology, 1810–2022 Selected Bibliography Index About the Authors

About the Author :
Michael J. LaRosa is associate professor of history at Rhodes College. Germán R. Mejía is professor of history and dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá.

Review :
During the last decade, Colombia underwent a tectonic transformation, securing a peace deal with Latin America's longest-running insurgent group, electing its first-ever leftist president, and even starring as the backdrop for a record-breaking animated Disney film. The rest of the world is quickly discovering Colombia, and LaRosa and Mejia's third edition of Colombia: A Concise Contemporary History is a peerless companion for scholars, practitioners, and curious minds seeking a greater understanding of the South American nation in all its spellbinding complexity. This book offers a refreshing perspective on Colombian history, underscoring the factors that have fostered viability for the Colombian state and unity within its society, in spite of the violence, inequalities, geographic obstacles, and crises that have continually threatened to pull the country apart. The concise second edition of this synthetic and engaging narrative explores a complex yet resilient contemporary Colombian society and examines possible paths toward a peaceful future. This insightful book grounds the reader in the social and economic roots of Colombia’s long history of violence, but more importantly, it offers a banquet of insights into Colombian identity and nationhood—ranging from its early use of aerial ski lifts for coffee distribution to the country’s literature, art, and theatre. It’s all here and it’s a fascinating read.