BACKGROUND PAPER
ON
COLOMBIA
1. This is an informative paper on the Republic of Colombia and its influence to the United States of America and beyond. Three key points will be discussed in the following paragraphs, including: politics and social relations; economics and resources; and United States’ interests in Colombia.
2. The Republic of Colombia has three branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive; the legislative branch, being the dominant branch, is split between the House of Representatives and the Senate, the judicial branch is led by a supreme court, and the executive branch is led by the President. The government of the Republic of Colombia similarly mirrors the government of the United States of America, having …show more content…
Colombia, being the oldest democracy in Latin America, has been, and is still, under control of illegal paramilitary, such as the FARC, and other drug trafficking organizations in areas of government and society. FARC, with the aim to achieve a dominant influence in Colombia, is able to use fear and persuasion to either win over the people of Colombia, or destroy them. According to the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, “the FARC has been able to integrate itself, at least to a degree, as a significant component of its country’s formal economy on both the national and international stage. In fact, it is a vital part of Colombia’s society and, to at least some Colombians, a symbol of opportunity and security.” 2 The unfortunate side to FARC is that, on the international stage, “Members of the FARC are often described as delinquent insurgents who have lost all personal and institutional ethical boundaries and continuously engorge themselves in a wide range of criminal activities.” 2 It would be in the United States’ best interest to aid Colombia in the process to retake its legitimacy and set an example to other Latin American nations to pursue democratic principles. To aid in achieving this, the US Department of State says that the “long-term U.S. interests in Colombia include promoting security, stability, and prosperity and supporting Colombia’s continued progress in addressing its security, economic development, and governance challenges.” 4 According to research by
ON
COLOMBIA
1. This is an informative paper on the Republic of Colombia and its influence to the United States of America and beyond. Three key points will be discussed in the following paragraphs, including: politics and social relations; economics and resources; and United States’ interests in Colombia.
2. The Republic of Colombia has three branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive; the legislative branch, being the dominant branch, is split between the House of Representatives and the Senate, the judicial branch is led by a supreme court, and the executive branch is led by the President. The government of the Republic of Colombia similarly mirrors the government of the United States of America, having …show more content…
Colombia, being the oldest democracy in Latin America, has been, and is still, under control of illegal paramilitary, such as the FARC, and other drug trafficking organizations in areas of government and society. FARC, with the aim to achieve a dominant influence in Colombia, is able to use fear and persuasion to either win over the people of Colombia, or destroy them. According to the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, “the FARC has been able to integrate itself, at least to a degree, as a significant component of its country’s formal economy on both the national and international stage. In fact, it is a vital part of Colombia’s society and, to at least some Colombians, a symbol of opportunity and security.” 2 The unfortunate side to FARC is that, on the international stage, “Members of the FARC are often described as delinquent insurgents who have lost all personal and institutional ethical boundaries and continuously engorge themselves in a wide range of criminal activities.” 2 It would be in the United States’ best interest to aid Colombia in the process to retake its legitimacy and set an example to other Latin American nations to pursue democratic principles. To aid in achieving this, the US Department of State says that the “long-term U.S. interests in Colombia include promoting security, stability, and prosperity and supporting Colombia’s continued progress in addressing its security, economic development, and governance challenges.” 4 According to research by