The Colombian Civil War

Rating:
Summary: Very good description of current issues and actors...
Review: This is an excellent source of information about the actors at the forefront of the Colombian civil conflict. It is convincingly detailed and leaves the reader with a sense of being able to truly understand the actual feelings and motivations behind the actions of the government officials, the paramilitary groups, and the guerrillas. Its only downfall is that it is not particularly theoretical - which means that academics will find it to be rich in empirical detail but not particularly helpful in placing the complex assemblage of actors within a broader theoretical framework that includes political institutions, economic forces, and social movements. On the other hand, both academics and non-academics will appreciate its straight-forward approach. This is one of the most clearly written and meticulously detailed books on the contemporary conflict, and the historical sections provide a good introduction to the main themes in Colombia's history. I recommend this book.