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The ‘Colombianisation’ of Central America: Misconceptions, Mischaracterisations and the Military-Agroindustrial Complex

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2020

Teo Ballvé Open the ORCID record for Teo Ballvé [Opens in a new window]  and
Kendra McSweeney
Teo Ballvé*
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, Peace & Conflict Studies Program and Department of Geography, Colgate University
Kendra McSweeney
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Geography, Ohio State University
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Observers have increasingly described the drug-related violence and corruption affecting Central America as the region's ‘Colombianisation’. This narrative is not just confused and misleading; it is dangerous. The Colombianisation discourse perpetuates ineffective and destructive anti-drug policies. It also obscures the circulations and connections that make the drug trade, the drug war and their associated economies of violence possible. We do, however, recognise one form of Colombianisation that actually is under way, but it is not the one imagined by security pundits. The real Colombianisation is a convergence of geopolitical and economic interests that have seized upon the geographical realignments of the drug trade to expand the same agroindustrial-military nexus in Central America that proved so ‘successful’ in Colombia.

Spanish abstract

Spanish abstract

Observadores han descrito de manera creciente la violencia y corrupción relacionadas con las drogas que afectan a Centroamérica como la ‘colombianización’ de la región. Esta narrativa no es solo confusa y distorsionada, sino peligrosa. El discurso de la colombianización perpetúa las ineficientes y destructivas políticas antidrogas. También obscurece la circulación y las conexiones que hacen posible tanto el tráfico de drogas, como la guerra contra las drogas y sus economías asociadas. Pese a ello, nosotros sí reconocemos una forma de colombianización que está de hecho actuando, pero no la que imaginan los expertos en seguridad. La colombianización real es una convergencia de intereses geopolíticos y económicos que han aprovechado los realineamientos geográficos del narcotráfico para expandir en Centroamérica el mismo nexo agroindustrial-militar que probó ser tan ‘exitoso’ en Colombia.

Portuguese abstract

Portuguese abstract

Observadores externos tem cada vez mais descrito a violência e corrupção que afeta a América Central como a ‘Colombianização’ da região. Tal narrativa não é somente confusa e falaciosa; é também perigosa. O discurso da Colombianização perpetua políticas anti drogas que são destrutivas e ineficazes. Além disso, obscurece as conexões que tornam possível o tráfico de drogas, a guerra às drogas e as economias de violência associadas a esses processos. Reconhecemos, no entanto, uma forma de Colombianização que de fato está acontecendo, mas que não é a imaginada pelos especialistas de segurança. A verdadeira Colombianização é uma convergência entre os interesses geopolíticos e econômicos. Esta convergência se aproveita do realinhamento geográfico do tráfico de drogas para expandir na América Central a mesma concatenação agroindustrial-militar que se provou tão ‘eficaz’ na Colômbia.

Keywords

Central AmericaColombiadrugsgeographymilitarisationagribusinessCentroaméricaColombiadrogasgeografíamilitarizaciónagroindustriaAmérica CentralColômbiadrogasgeografiamilitarizaçãoagronegócio
Type
Commentary
Information
Journal of Latin American Studies , Volume 52 , Issue 4 , November 2020 , pp. 805 - 829
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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