1. Colombia A primer (with some emphasis on foreign policy) Daniel Gomez Gaviria

2. Geography Borders with Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador. Coast over the Pacific and the Caribbean.

3. Geography Fragmented territory. Poor infrastructure. Deep jungles.

4. Weather

5. Regional diversity

6. Political structure

7. Politics Two main parties dominated most of the past century: liberal, conservative. National Front: alternation of power. Constitutional assembly of 1991 and new Constitution. Now: fragmented parties, new parties, many independents.

8. Economy

9. Recent History Jorge Eliecer Gaitan,La Violencia (1950s) El Frente Nacional (1958-1974) The Guerrilla movements: FARC (1964), ELN(1965), EPL(1967), M-19 (1974), Quintin Lame (1984). Import Substitution, Protectionism, smuggling routes (1960s). The Drug trade (1970s, mariguana; 1980s, cocaine) Paramilitaries, AUC(1990s)

10. Recent History 2 War on Drugs (1986-1994) Constitution of 1991 Trade liberalization of the 1990s Failed peace process (1998-2002) and Plan Colombia. Colombia, a failed state? Alvaro Uribe (2002-2006, 2006-2010, 2010- 2014?): many violence and economic indicators improve. Paramilitary scandal (2006-2007)

11. The Colombian Armed Conflict

12. Main Foreign Policy Challenges Human Rights; labor rights. Relationship with Neighbors. FTAs and diversification of trade partners. War on Drugs, internal conflict and US military Aid. Domestic issues are tightly linked to foreign relations.