Suchergebnisse

Non-governmental organizations claim to play a central role in defining U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the field of human rights. Here, I will examine the role of human rights and humanitarian groups in the debates over U.S. foreign policy towards Colombia, focusing on the design and subsequent additional appropriations for Plan Colombia, a multi-billion dollar aid package beginning in 2000. I argue that NGOs were able to build on the legacy of prior human rights activism focusing on Latin America, but failed to achieve significant grassroots mobilization around this issue. I examine the structural issues limiting such mobilization, as well as exploring how NGOs did leverage legislative conditions placed on the assistance package to keep human rights concerns part of the debates over U.S. policy. This case study will contribute to the historical record of how policy is made and developed, adding to the growing literature exploring how human rights claims translate into specific governmental policies. (Colombia Internacional/GIGA)

Examines military policy in Colombia over the last 15 years to consider how Colombia has managed to retain control over the military, maintain a system of competitive elections, & broaden its democracy, in spite of increasing social & political violence. It is argued that Columbia's power structure & its relationship with the US are central to understanding its military policies. Institutional & societal approaches to analyzing military/security policies are discussed, along with the historical linkage between Colombia's economic elites & the two major political parties. It is maintained that these linkages have had a significant impact on government policies & that they are reflected in the actions of the armed forces. Specific examples are given of how these liaisons affected policy decisions during President Ernesto Samper's (1994-1998) administration, which exhibited increased levels of social/political violence. It is contended that little has changed in state-society relations under President Andres Pastrana, & the influence of business, landowning elites, & international actors on policy decisions suggests that institutional approaches are not adequate for fully explaining the continuities or shifts in Colombian military/security policies. 64 References. J. Lindroth