Corruption and violence:  Colombian paramilitarism after the demobilisation of the United Self-Defence  Forces of Colombia (AUC)

Colombia has experienced outstanding levels of violence in the past decades due to the internal armed conflict in which various illegal armed groups participated. One of these was the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC, Autodefensas), the umbrella organisation of the pro-state, right-wing paramilitaries that developed close ties with state agencies and politicians. These corrupt networks, known as parapolitics, not only provided protection and economic benefits to the paramilitaries but also allowed them to influence the political sphere. Hence, paramilitary-state collusion also shaped the demobilisation process of these structures that occurred between 2003-2006. According to prominent organisations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, the flaws of the transitional justice framework under which AUC demobilised, for instance the lack of sufficient investigation, allowed the continuation of paramilitarism. Re-emergent paramilitary structures are now present...Show moreColombia has experienced outstanding levels of violence in the past decades due to the internal armed conflict in which various illegal armed groups participated. One of these was the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC, Autodefensas), the umbrella organisation of the pro-state, right-wing paramilitaries that developed close ties with state agencies and politicians. These corrupt networks, known as parapolitics, not only provided protection and economic benefits to the paramilitaries but also allowed them to influence the political sphere. Hence, paramilitary-state collusion also shaped the demobilisation process of these structures that occurred between 2003-2006. According to prominent organisations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, the flaws of the transitional justice framework under which AUC demobilised, for instance the lack of sufficient investigation, allowed the continuation of paramilitarism. Re-emergent paramilitary structures are now present in 24 out of 32 departments of the country and are continuing shape politics, which also implies the continuation of paramilitary violence. This essay analyses the case of AUC and the re-emerging paramilitary structures to understand how corruption allows the continuation of paramilitary violence and parapolitics despite the demobilisation of the Autodefensas.Show less

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Corruption and violence: Colombian paramilitarism after the demobilisation of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC)