Between Legitimacy and Violence is an authoritative, sweeping history of Colombia's "long twentieth century," from the tumultuous civil wars of the late nineteenth century to the drug wars of the late twentieth. Marco Palacios, a leading Latin American historian, skillfully blends political, economic, social, and cultural history. In an expansive chronological narrative full of vivid detail, he explains Colombia's political history, discussing key leaders, laws, parties, and ideologies; corruption and inefficiency; and the paradoxical nature of government institutions, which, while stable and enduring, are unable to prevent frequent and extreme outbursts of violence. Palacios traces the trajectory of the economy, addressing agriculture (particularly the economic significance of coffee), the development of a communication and transportation infrastructure, industrialization, and labor struggles. Palacios also gives extensive attention to persistent social inequalities, the role of the Catholic Church, demographic shifts such as urbanization and emigration, and Colombia's relationship with the United States. Offering a comparative perspective, he frequently contrasts Colombia with other Latin American nations. Throughout, Palacios offers a helpful interpretive framework, connecting developments with their causes and consequences. By thoroughly illuminating Colombia's past, Between Legitimacy and Violence sheds much-needed light on the country's violent present.

An authoritative, sweeping history of Colombia's "long twentieth century," from the tumultuous civil wars of the late nineteenth century to the drug wars of the late twentieth, by a leading Latin American historian.

About the Author

Marco Palacios is Professor of Latin American History at El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City. He is the author of numerous books in Spanish as well as Coffee in Colombia, 1850-1970: An Economic, Social, and Political History. He is a coauthor of Colombia: Fragmented Land, Divided Society.

Richard Stoller is Coordinator of Selection and International Programs in Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University. He has a Ph.D. in Latin American studies.

Reviews
"Marco Palacios's comprehensive, skilled narration of Colombia's turbulent 'long twentieth century' is the best one-volume history of that country we have. There is nothing else available in English that provides even a shadow of the complexity and completeness of Palacios's book."-Ann Farnsworth-Alvear, author of Dulcinea in the Factory: Myths, Morals, Men, and Women in Colombia's Industrial Experiment, 1905-1960
"A skillful historian, Palacios gives the public a sharp, broad and yet very complete view of Colombia's twentieth-century history . . . . Students of Latin American studies will benefit greatly from this valuable account of Colombia's history. Anyone interested in Colombia and its history will find this a most valuable and complete history guide. The author is an authority in the field and his own life experiences have permitted him to step outside the turmoil and violence of Colombia to produce a book that gives an intellectual, organized, and logical order to its turbulent history." -- Debora Cordeiro-Rosa * The Latin Americanist *
"Marco Palacios' account of Colombian history is a must-read for historians, economists, political scientists, and geographers. It is an intricately woven story that highlights the complexities of Colombian history. . . . A rich interpretation of Colombian history is presented with the expressed intent of revealing how the past affects current thinking and events." -- Sheila Amin Gutierrez de Pineres * EIAL *



Book Information
ISBN 9780822337676
Author Marco Palacios
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Duke University Press
Publisher Duke University Press
Weight(grams) 431g