Busboys and Poets welcomes author Aldo Civico to the Langston Room to discuss his book The Para-State’s History in Colombia and its Lessons for Latin America. As Colombia negotiates an end to its protracted internal armed conflict lasting over 50 years, successors to the paramilitary groups that emerged during the conflict have the potential to undermine effective implementation of the accords. To guarantee peace Colombia will need to dismantle the operations of violent paramilitary groups who in certain cases are linked to politicians, military, and economic interests. Join us for this unique opportunity to explore the history of this phenomenon and the steps that can be taken to address it in Colombia. Clandestine groups that emerge from paramilitary and other security forces in post-conflict scenarios, and that develop political and economic ties, have posed challenges to democracy and citizen security in other regions of Latin America, and Colombia’s experience may hold important lessons. Aldo Civico is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Rutgers University. Between 2005 and 2008, he facilitated ceasefire talks between the government of Colombia and the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN).
This event is sponsored by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). There will be commentary by Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli- Senior Associate, WOLA.
