DOCSLIB.ORG

TERRORISM in COLOMBIA: the UNTOLD CONFLICT By

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
TERRORISM in COLOMBIA: the UNTOLD CONFLICT By TERRORISM IN COLOMBIA: THE UNTOLD CONFLICT by Zachary Toll A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of George Mason University in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Geoinformatics and Geospatial Intelligence Committee: _________________________________________ Dr. Anthony Stefanidis, Thesis Director _________________________________________ Dr. Paul Delamater Committee Member _________________________________________ Dr. Arie Croitoru, Committee Member _________________________________________ Dr. Anthony Stefanidis, Department Chairman _________________________________________ Dr. Donna M. Fox, Associate Dean, Office of Student Affairs & Special Programs, College of Science _________________________________________ Dr. Peggy Agouris, Dean, College of Science Date: __________________________________ Summer Semester 2017 George Mason University Fairfax, VA Terrorism in Colombia: The Untold Conflict A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at George Mason University by Zachary Toll Bachelor of Arts University of California, Santa Barbara, 2012 Director: Anthony Stefanidis, Professor Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science Summer Semester 2017 George Mason University Fairfax, VA Copyright 2017 Zachary Toll All Rights Reserved ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my loving family, the faculty, staff, and students of George Mason University, and the people of the Republic of Colombia who have struggled and fought so many years for peace. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to first and foremost thank my committee chair Dr. Anthony Stefanidis for all of his guidance, support and encouragement throughout my time at George Mason University. An equal thank you is also given to Dr. Paul Delamater for his instruction, guidance and feedback for the entire duration of my thesis work. This work could not have been accomplished without them both. A very special thank you to Manzhu Yu, who proved to be of tremendous and invaluable support for the computer programming element of my thesis work. Thank you to John Solly and Tom Marotta both provided crucial help and support during the final hours of my Masters work at George Mason University. Last but not least, a thank you Dr. Arie Croitoru and Jacek Radzikowski for your guidance and support. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii List of Equations ................................................................................................................. x List of Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... xi Abstract .............................................................................................................................. xi 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Conflict in Colombia ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Strategic Significance ................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Terrorism and Geography in Colombia .................................................................... 5 1.4 Social Media and Terrorism: Influence and Recruitment ......................................... 9 1.5 Thesis Scope and Structure ..................................................................................... 13 2. Statement of Research Questions And Expected Findings ........................................... 15 3. Methodologies............................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Research Question 1 ................................................................................................ 20 3.2 Research Question 2 ................................................................................................ 21 3.3 Research Question 3 ................................................................................................ 22 3.4 Research Question 4 ................................................................................................ 26 3.5 Research Question 5 ................................................................................................ 27 3.6 Research Question 6 ................................................................................................ 29 3.7 Research Question 7 ................................................................................................ 32 3.8 Research Question 8 ................................................................................................ 34 4. Results ........................................................................................................................... 37 4.1 Research Question 1 ................................................................................................ 37 4.2 Research Question 2 ................................................................................................ 41 4.3 Research Question 3 ................................................................................................ 45 4.4 Research Question 4 ................................................................................................ 50 v 4.5 Research Question 5 ................................................................................................ 55 4.6 Research Question 6 ................................................................................................ 68 4.7 Research Question 7 ................................................................................................ 73 4.8 Research Question 8 ................................................................................................ 83 5. Limitations .................................................................................................................. 102 6. Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 106 7. Appendix ..................................................................................................................... 112 7.1 Word Cloud Script ................................................................................................ 112 7.2 Gephi Visualization Script .................................................................................... 113 8. References ................................................................................................................... 116 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page Table 1. FARC attacks, ELN attacks, and NDVI per Department ................................... 24 Table 2. FARC and ELN AIV statistics before (2000–2001), during (2002–2010), and after (2011–2014) Uribe's Presidency. .............................................................................. 37 Table 3. Moran's Index and P-values if FARC and ELN AIVs, 2012 - 2014. ................. 42 Table 4. P-values derived from linear model computed in R. .......................................... 48 Table 5. X variables used in linear regression models. ..................................................... 56 Table 6. Y variables used in linear regression models. ..................................................... 56 Table 7. Bivariate Linear Regression: Y variable FARC AIVs vs individual X variables. ........................................................................................................................................... 65 Table 8. Bivariate Linear Regression: Y variable ELN AIVs vs individual X variables. 66 Table 9. Bivariate Linear Regression: Y variable number of Attacks vs individual X variables. ........................................................................................................................... 66 Table 10. Bivariate Linear Regression: Y variable Tweets vs individual X variables. .... 67 Table 11. Multivariate Linear Regression: Y variables FARC AIVs, ELN AIVs, number of Attacks, and tweets vs all X variables. ......................................................................... 67 Table 12. Stage one alignment (Borum, 2003) for 17 Departments of Colombia. ........... 83 Table 13. Stage two alignment (Borom, 2003) for 17 Departments of Colombia............ 85 Table 14. Stage one and two alignment for 17 Departments of Colombia. ...................... 87 Table 15. Stage three alignment for the ELN terror organization (Twitter). .................... 91 Table 16. Stage three alignment for FARC terror organization (Twitter). ....................... 92 Table 17. Stage three alignment for the Government of Colombia (Survey). .................. 94 Table 18. All stages of alignment for ELN. ...................................................................... 95 Table 19. All stages of alignment for the FARC. ............................................................. 97 Table 20. All stages of alignment for the President of Colombia. .................................... 98 Table 21. Top 10 Departments according two stage one and two alignment, and negative sentiment (Borum, 2003). ..............................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Shimmering Words 17.Indd
    Shimmering Words MAGAZINE ISSN 2463-0403 USTA TUNJA Fr. Bernardo de Lugo, O.P. de Lugo, Bernardo Fr. TUNJA USTA LANGUAGES INSTITUTE 2017 LOCAL MANAGERS Fr. JORGE FERDINANDO RODRÍGUEZ RUIZ, O. P. Principal Fr. JAVIER ANTONIO CASTELLANOS, O.P. FR. BERNARDO DE LUGO, O.P. Vice Provost for Academic Affrairs LANGUAGES INSTITUTE Father JOSÉ ANTONIO BALAGUERA CEPEDA, O.P. Vice Provost Administrative – Financial Affairs Shimmering PRODUCTION TEAM Words LANGUAGES INSTITUTE DIRECTOR MAGAZINE Professor Victor Felipe Prada Hernández Magazine Editor Professor Gladis Leonor Arias Rodríguez Coeditor CREDITS Professor Eliana Edith Roberto Flórez Style Corrections Duncan Andrew Higgons Graphic Designer Santiago Suárez Varela OJS Manager Jorge Antonio Alvarado Rojas ISSN: 2463-0403 N°: 7 - 2017 |||||| THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING ANOTHER LANGUAGE resent times require the development of specific skill sets in order to respond to Pthe needs arising from globalization and knowledge acquisition is related to the use new trends; some of the most important skill sets of languages; according to the Oxford Royale are those related to means of communication, Academy, English is spoken in more countries because they have become some of the most than any other language, followed by others such prominent aspects of a modern lifestyle, due to as Arabic, Dutch and French among others. the constant exchange of information. Speaking other languages is a mandatory skill for people to develop, as it is necessary to succeed in So why learn English? communicating with people
    [Show full text]
  • FARC-EP) Marxist-Leninist Insurgency Or Criminal Enterprise?
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Calhoun, Institutional Archive of the Naval Postgraduate School Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 2005-12 The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP) Marxist-Leninist insurgency or criminal enterprise? Saskiewicz, Paul E. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/1809 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA – PEOPLE’S ARMY (FARC-EP): MARXIST-LENINIST INSURGENCY OR CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE? by Paul E. Saskiewicz December 2005 Thesis Advisor: Jeanne Giraldo Co-Advisor: Douglas Porch Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED December 2005 Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE: The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC- 5. FUNDING NUMBERS EP): Marxist-Leninist Insurgency or Criminal Enterprise? 6.
    [Show full text]
  • The Worldwide Connection Between Drugs and Terrorism Hearing
    S. HRG. 107–885 NARCO–TERROR: THE WORLDWIDE CONNECTION BETWEEN DRUGS AND TERRORISM HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY, TERRORISM, AND GOVERNMENT INFORMATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION MARCH 13, 2002 Serial No. J–107–66 Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 85–660 PDF WASHINGTON : 2003 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Mar 21 2002 15:46 Apr 01, 2003 Jkt 085660 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 C:\HEARINGS\85660.TXT SJUD4 PsN: CMORC COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont, Chairman EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Delaware STROM THURMOND, South Carolina HERBERT KOHL, Wisconsin CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin JON KYL, Arizona CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York MIKE DEWINE, Ohio RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois JEFF SESSIONS, Alabama MARIA CANTWELL, Washington SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas JOHN EDWARDS, North Carolina MITCH MCCONNELL, Kentucky BRUCE A. COHEN, Majority Chief Counsel and Staff Director SHARON PROST, Minority Chief Counsel MAKAN DELRAHIM, Minority Staff Director SUBCOMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY, TERRORISM, AND GOVERNMENT INFORMATION DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California, Chairwoman JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Delaware JON KYL, Arizona HERBERT KOHL, Wisconsin MIKE DEWINE, Ohio MARIA CANTWELL, Washington JEFF SESSIONS, Alabama JOHN EDWARDS, North Carolina MITCH MCCONNELL, Kentucky DAVID HANTMAN, Majority Chief Counsel STEPHEN HIGGINS, Minority Chief Counsel (II) VerDate Mar 21 2002 15:46 Apr 01, 2003 Jkt 085660 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 C:\HEARINGS\85660.TXT SJUD4 PsN: CMORC C O N T E N T S STATEMENTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS Page DeWine, Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • The Economics of Terrorism: an Overview of Theory and Applied Studies
    1 the economics of terrorism: an overview of theory and applied studies Aurelia Valiño, Mikel Buesa, and Thomas Baumert introduction After the attacks on September 11, 2001 (9/11), March 11, 2004 (11/3), and July 7, 2005 (7/7), there has been a sharp increase in the interest in terrorism, both in the United States and Europe. Many of these concerns are about the costs, the economic conse- quences of these attacks, and provision of insurance cover, in addition to the tradition- al focus on the general causes of attacks, trends, theoretical predictions and political recommendations, sources of funding, responses from negotiations in incidents with hostages, or how economic development affects terrorism or vice versa. Though terrorism is by no means new, particularly in European history, the mas- sacres perpetrated in New York and Madrid attracted interest in all quarters concern- ing how to increase our knowledge in any way about these serious questions: who are the attackers? Why do they do it? How do they do it? What are the consequences apart from death? Does it affect me, and how? Is there any pattern of behaviour in the attacks? Can we predict forthcoming attacks? Or, the most diffi cult problem, how can they be avoided? These questions can be approached from different perspectives: the psychological, political, judicial, or economic. In each of these fi elds there has been a great development in the literature in recent years. In this chapter a summary is presented of the economic literature on terrorism. After a review of the concepts of terrorism and the presentation and analysis of the main data sources used in the literature, the principal arguments as to the causes of terrorism are presented from an economic viewpoint, analyses made on the fi nanc- ing of terrorism and its economic effects, as well as assessments of counter-terrorism policies from the economist’s point of view.
    [Show full text]
  • The FARC: Worthy of the EU Label of Designated Terrorist Organisation
    The FARC: Worthy of the EU Label of Designated Terrorist Organisation After over half a century of fighting, the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) announced a new peace agreement on 12 November, 2016.1 Both parties had already come to a peace agreement about two months earlier, but that agreement was rejected with a slight majority (50.2%) by the Colombian people in a referendum. The opposition felt that the agreement would be too lenient on the FARC rebels, because the rebels would get reduced sentences for the crimes they had committed over the past years.2 In response to the first peace agreement, the Council of the European Union, hereafter abbreviated as the Council, decided to lift the sanctions against the FARC, effectively suspending the organisation from the European Union (EU) list of designated terrorist organisations.3 Even though the EU no longer considers the FARC to be terrorists, many other nations and institutions still do, as well as a large portion of the Colombian people. So are the FARC terrorists or are they truly just rebels as the organisation itself claims to be? Based on decades of history and various scholarly and institutional definitions of terrorism, the FARC must be considered terrorists and remain on the EU list of designated terrorist organisations. --- As Bakker explains4, there is not really a universally accepted definition of terrorism. However, a common definition is very much needed in the international, legal and academic domain. This paper could therefore be relevant for the discussion on how terrorism should be defined and could be beneficial to the practices within these domains.
    [Show full text]
  • Mexico Is Not Colombia Alternative Historical Analogies for Responding to the Challenge of Violent Drug-Trafficking Organizations
    CHILDREN AND FAMILIES The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that EDUCATION AND THE ARTS helps improve policy and decisionmaking through ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT research and analysis. HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE This electronic document was made available from INFRASTRUCTURE AND www.rand.org as a public service of the RAND TRANSPORTATION Corporation. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS LAW AND BUSINESS NATIONAL SECURITY Skip all front matter: Jump to Page 16 POPULATION AND AGING PUBLIC SAFETY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Support RAND Purchase this document TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY Browse Reports & Bookstore Make a charitable contribution For More Information Visit RAND at www.rand.org Explore the RAND National Security Research Division View document details Limited Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law as indicated in a notice appearing later in this work. This electronic representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for non-commercial use only. Unauthorized posting of RAND electronic documents to a non-RAND website is prohibited. RAND electronic documents are protected under copyright law. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please see RAND Permissions. This report is part of the RAND Corporation research report series. RAND reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for re- search quality and objectivity. Supporting Case Studies Christopher Paul, Colin P. Clarke, Chad C. Serena C O R P O R A T I O N NATIONAL SECURITY RESEARCH DIVISION Mexico Is Not Colombia Alternative Historical Analogies for Responding to the Challenge of Violent Drug-Trafficking Organizations Supporting Case Studies Christopher Paul, Colin P.
    [Show full text]
  • Colombia: Background and U.S. Relations
    Colombia: Background and U.S. Relations Updated October 26, 2020 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R43813 SUMMARY R43813 Colombia: Background and U.S. Relations October 26, 2020 Colombia, a key U.S. ally in Latin America, endured from the mid-1960s more than a half of century of internal armed conflict. To address the country’s prominence in illegal June S. Beittel drug production, the United States and Colombia have forged a close relationship over Analyst in Latin American the past two decades. Plan Colombia, a program focused initially on counternarcotics Affairs and later on counterterrorism, laid the foundation for an enduring security partnership. President Juan Manuel Santos (2010-2018) made concluding a peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)—the country’s largest leftist guerrilla organization at the time—his government’s primary focus. Following four years of peace negotiations, Colombia’s Congress ratified the FARC-government peace accord in November 2016. During a U.N.-monitored demobilization in 2017, approximately 13,200 FARC disarmed, demobilized, and began to reintegrate. The U.S.-Colombia partnership, originally forged on security interests, now encompasses sustainable development, human rights, trade, and wider cooperation. Support from Congress and across U.S. Administrations has been largely bipartisan. Congress appropriated more than $10 billion for Plan Colombia and its follow-on programs between FY2000 and FY2016, about 20% of which was funded through the U.S. Department of Defense. U.S. government assistance to Colombia over the past 20 years has totaled nearly $12 billion, with funds appropriated by Congress mainly for the Departments of State and Defense and the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Fifteen Years of Plan Colombia
    | 315 analecta polit. | Vol. 7 | No. 13 | PP. 315-332 | julio-diciembre | 2017 | ISSN: 2027-7458 | Medellín- Colombia http://dx.doi.org/10.18566/apolit.v7n13.a05 Fifteen Years of Plan Colombia (2001-2016) The Recovery of a Weak State and the Submission of Narco-terrorist Groups? Quince años del Plan Colombia (2001-2016) ¿La recuperación de un Estado débil y la sumisión de los grupos narcoterroristas? Quinze anos do Plano Colômbia (2001-2006) A recuperação de um Estado fraco e a Cómo citar submissão dos grupos narco-terroristas? este artículo en APA: Ramírez, J. (2017). Fifteen Years of Plan Colombia (2001-2016) JULIO CÉSAR RAMÍREZ MONTAÑEZ The Recovery of a Weak State and the Professional in International Relations. Master in International Submission of Narco- Relations, Flinders University Adelaide Australia. Professor terrorist Groups?. of International Business Administration Faculty, Pontificia Analecta política, 7(13), 315-332. Bolivariana University, (Bucaramanga, Colombia) Head of Research Group of International Business Administration Faculty (GRICANI). [email protected]. orcid. Recibido: org/0000-0003-0116-3330. Dirección Postal: Circunvalar 10 de febrero de 2017 Aprobado: 25 # 152-197, Apartamento 802, Edificio Vista Azul, 15 de agosto de 2017 Floridablanca, Santander - Colombia. Atribución – Sin Derivar – No comercial: El material creado por usted puede ser distribuido, copiado y exhibido por terceros si se muestra en los créditos. No se puede obtener ningún beneficio comercial. No se pueden realizar obras derivadas 316 | Julio César Ramírez Montañez Fifteen Years of Plan Colombia (2001-2016) Resumen La idea básica de este escrito es presentar una visión amplia de las implicaciones del Plan Colombia sobre el conflicto colombiano en la ultima década y media.
    [Show full text]
  • Implications of Power Blackouts for the Nation's
    IMPLICATIONS OF POWER BLACKOUTS FOR THE NATION’S CYBERSECURITY AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION JOINT HEARING OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CYBERSECURITY, SCIENCE, AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND BORDER SECURITY OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 and SEPTEMBER 23, 2003 Serial No. 108–23 Printed for the use of the Select Committee on Homeland Security ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/house U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 99–793 PDF WASHINGTON : 2005 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 SELECT COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY CHRISTOPHER COX, California, Chairman JENNIFER DUNN, Washington JIM TURNER, Texas, Ranking Member C.W. BILL YOUNG, Florida BENNIE G. THOMPSON, Mississippi DON YOUNG, Alaska LORETTA SANCHEZ, California F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR., EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts Wisconsin NORMAN D. DICKS, Washington W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN, Louisiana BARNEY FRANK, Massachusetts DAVID DREIER, California JANE HARMAN, California DUNCAN HUNTER, California BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland HAROLD ROGERS, Kentucky LOUISE MCINTOSH SLAUGHTER, SHERWOOD BOEHLERT, New York New York LAMAR S. SMITH, Texas PETER A. DEFAZIO, Oregon CURT WELDON, Pennsylvania NITA M. LOWEY, New York CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, Connecticut ROBERT E. ANDREWS, New Jersey PORTER J. GOSS, Florida ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, DAVE CAMP, Michigan District of Columbia LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART, Florida ZOE LOFGREN, California BOB GOODLATTE, Virginia KAREN MCCARTHY, Missouri ERNEST J.
    [Show full text]
  • August 2020 PERSPECTIVES on TERRORISM Volume 14, Issue 4
    ISSN 2334-3745 Volume XIV, Issue 4 August 2020 PERSPECTIVES ON TERRORISM Volume 14, Issue 4 Table of Contents Welcome from the Editors...............................................................................................................................1 Introduction to the Special Issue ...................................................................................................................2 by Jorge M. Lasmar and Rashmi Singh Articles Illicit Trade and Terrorism .............................................................................................................................7 by Louise I. Shelley Breaking Hezbollah’s ‘Golden Rule’: An Inside Look at the Modus Operandi of Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad Organization ................................................................................................................................................21 By Matthew Levitt ISIS Resurgence in Al Hawl Camp and Human Smuggling Enterprises in Syria: Crime and Terror Convergence? ................................................................................................................................................43 by Christian Vianna de Azevedo The Use of Terrorist Tools by Criminal Organizations: The Case of the Brazilian Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) ...............................................................................................................................................64 by Guilherme Damasceno Fonseca Cartel-Related Violence in Mexico as Narco-Terrorism or Criminal Insurgency:
    [Show full text]
  • Testimony of General James T. Hill United States Army Commander United States Southern Command
    file:///C|/andeansecbook/04-03-24hill.htm TESTIMONY OF GENERAL JAMES T. HILL UNITED STATES ARMY COMMANDER UNITED STATES SOUTHERN COMMAND BEFORE THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 24, 2004 Introduction Mr. Chairman, Representative Skelton, Members of the Committee, it is my privilege to present the posture statement of the United States Southern Command. The men and women of our command are making enormous contributions to the War on Terrorism and the defense of this country on a daily basis. Your Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Department of Defense civilians are working throughout the region to promote U.S. national security interests. Their work has done much to preserve stability and strengthen relationships with our allies. Simultaneously we are building a cooperative security community that will advance security and stability in the generation to come. The security picture in Latin America and the Caribbean has grown more complex over the past year. Colombia’s considerable progress in the battle against narcoterrorism is offset by negative developments elsewhere in the region, particularly in Haiti, Bolivia, and Venezuela. These developments represent an increasing threat to U.S. interests. We face two primary types of threats in the region: an established set of threats detailed in previous years and a nascent set likely to raise serious issues during this year. On the traditional front, we still face threats from narcoterrorists and their ilk, a growing threat to law and order in partner nations from urban gangs and other illegal armed groups, which are also generally tied to the narcotics trade, and a lesser but sophisticated threat from Islamic radical groups in the region.
    [Show full text]
  • “Success” Story* Midiendo La Historia “De Éxito” Colombiana
    REVISTA DE CIENCIA POLÍTICA / VOLUMEN 32 / Nº 3 / 2012 / 739 – 752 MEASURING THE COLOMBIAN “SUCCESS” STORY* Midiendo la historia “de éxito” colombiana ANDREAS E. FELDMANN Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile ABSTRACT This article discusses the evolution of state capacity in Colombia. Drawing on the general debate regarding the conceptualization and measurement of the state, the piece tracks the record of the Colombian state in the last decade. The article posits that, contrary to the conventional wisdom, the strength of the Colombian state has increased only marginally in the last 10 years. This improvement derives from important gains in two of Michael Mann’s (1986) infrastructural power dimensions –territorial reach and bureaucratic capacity. Lack of substantial improvements in Mann’s third infrastructural dimension– autonomy vis-à-vis non-states actors– and setbacks in the state legitimacy dimension make the gains in state capacity modest rather than robust. Key words: Stateness, Infrastructural Capacity, Legitimacy, Colombia. RESUMEN Este artículo analiza la evolución de la capacidad del Estado colombiano. Siguiendo el debate general relativo a la conceptualización y medición del Estado, el artículo mide el récord del Estado colombiano en la última década. El argumento principal es que, contrariamente al pensamiento convencional, la fortaleza del Estado colombiano ha incrementado sólo marginalmente en los últimos diez años. Los progresos derivan de mejoras apreciables en dos dimensiones de la noción de poder infraestructural de Michael Mann (1986) –capacidad burocrática y penetración territorial. Ausencia de progresos substantivos en la autonomía del Estado en relación a actores no estatales, la tercera dimensión de penetración del concepto de poder infraestructural de Mann, y retrocesos en la legitimidad estatal hacen que el fortalecimiento general del estado sea más bien modesto.
    [Show full text]