Abstract

RIVAS NIETO, Pedro  and  REY GARCIA, Pablo. Self-Defence Groups and Paramilitarism in Colombia (1964-2006). CONfines relacion. internaci. ciencia política [online]. 2008, vol.4, n.7, pp.43-52. ISSN 1870-3569.

This paper studies the phenomenon of the Colombian paramilitarism from its formal emergence, in the sixties, up to its formal disappearance, in 2006. This analysis comprises the evolution and the relations with diverse social groups that constituted the paramilitary movements, specially ranchers, drugs traffickers and the Armed Forces. Special emphasis is given to the change produced among the "self-defence groups" -legitimate defence supported by the State- and the paramilitary groups, whose purpose in the beginning was to finish with the insurgency, but at the end both of them were dedicated to criminal activities.

Keywords : paramilitarism; political violence; conflict; Armed Forces; war.

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