Conflict and peace in the making Colombia from 1948–2010

This chapter discusses the evolution of the Colombian conflict and peace building initiatives with different groups that took place as part of ongoing attempts at the consolidation of statehood in Colombia since 1948. In particular, it provides an account of the various peace attempts and failed peace processes between the government and the FARC-EP, up to 2010. The chapter also highlights the occurrence of multiple peace processes (both successful and failed) with other groups during the period under review. The chapter argues that the pursuit of war and attempts at reaching peace have coexisted in Colombia since 1948. Peace attempts have thus seen some successes and backlashes in their attempt at consolidating the presence of the state and the monopoly of the Colombian state; the tension between war and peace is a constant of modern Colombian history. This tension has been fueled by the role of illicit drugs in the Colombian violence.