Endangered Species: Young Men Within Colombia's Culture of Violecne

Abstract

Since the country’s creation, Colombia’s political disagreements and internal conflict hindered the development of a strong state apparatus. Without this strong government, violence became a common occurrence and regular mediation for sociopolitical conflict. This violent legacy fostered the development of a strong illegal narcotics trade, numerous guerrilla groups, and paramilitary defense forces. Together, these organizations promoted a Colombian “culture of violence,” within which men were encouraged to negotiate their dignity and desire for traditionally-masculine successes such as money, women, and power through extreme acts of violence and participation in illegal activity as necessitated by limited economic opportunities elsewhere. This world of violence destroyed young men even as they attempted to overcome it. By examining Colombia’s violent history as well as the rise of the illegal narcotics trade, it becomes clear that the Colombian culture of violence greatly contributed to the high mortality rate of young men in Colombia during the late 20th Century (‘80s and ‘90s).