A ‘Promising Democracy’ That Can’t Stop Fighting Itself

The article examines Colombia's history of political violence, tracing it back to the 1948 assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, which triggered La Violencia, a decade-long conflict killing over 200,000. It highlights the 2023 election as a pivotal moment, with candidates divided over President Gustavo Petro’s 'total peace' strategy versus military-focused approaches to address ongoing armed group activity.