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Through the lens of global capitalism theory, William Avilés examines democratization and civil-military relations in Colombia to explain how social and international forces led to the ostensibly contradictory outcome of democratic and economic reform coinciding with political repression. Focusing on the administrations in power from 1990 to the present, Avilés argues that the reduction in the institutional powers of the military within the state reflected changes in the structure of the global economy, the emergence of globalizing technocrats and politicians, and shifts in U.S. foreign policy strategies toward “democracy promotion.” These same factors explain Colombia’s establishment of a low-intensity democracy—a structure of elite rule in which the strategies of coercion (state and para-state repression) and consensus (competitive elections, civilian control over the military) maintain control and legitimacy. In the age of capitalist globalization, a low-intensity democracy is most concomitant with neoliberalism, establishing the political and economic environment most suitable to the investments of transnational corporations.
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Global Capitalism, Democracy, and Civil-Military Relations in Colombia SUNY series in Global Politics James N. Rosenau, editor GLOBAL CAPITALISM, DEMO CRACY, AND CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN COLOMBIA 찞 WILLIAM AVILÉS S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E W Y O R K P R E S S Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 2006 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210-2384 Production by Christine L. Hamel Marketing by Anne M. Valentine Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Avilés, William, 1971– Global capitalism, democracy, and civil-military relations in Colombia / William Avilés. p. cm. — (SUNY series in global politics) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-6699-X (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Democracy—Colombia. 2. Civil-military relations—Colombia. 3. Colombia— Politics and government—1974– 4. Colombia—Economic policy. I. Title. II. Series. JL2881.A95 2006 322'.5'09861—dc22 2005012802 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents List of Tables and Figures vii Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 1 Globalization, State Theory, and Civil-Military Relations 7 2 Counterinsurgency, Civil-Military Relations, and Low-Intensity Democracy: A Historical Context 25 Civil-Military Relations and the Reform of Low-Intensity Democracy 51 The Preservation of Civilian Authority in the Samper Administration 71 5 Military Impunity and Symbolic Reform 89 6 Parastate Repression and Civilian Tolerance 105 7 The Continuation of Low-Intensity Democracy: The Pastrana and Uribe Administrations 123 3 4 Conclusion 141 Notes 149 References 165 Index 187 v This page intentionally left blank. List of Tables and Figures TABLES 3.1 The Transnational Elite in the Gaviria Administration (1990–1994) 56 Presidential Commission for the Reform of Public Administration