Transcript “Major Obstacles to Democracy in Colombia: Corruption, the

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Corruption, conflict and power struggle - destabilizing the
Colombian state for decades.
Inefficient & corrupt judiciary undermines democratic
institutions.
Erosion of Colombian political culture as a result of
corruption.
Lack of transparency and accountability.
Corruption hampers political & economic development.
Corruption undermines the electoral process.
Personal rather than institutionalized relationships.
No democratic consolidation due to corrupt symbiosis
between the legal system and the Colombian government.
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Joseph S. Nye on corruption: perversion or misuse of power
for personal benefit.
Political vs. societal corruption.
Grand corruption vs. petty corruption.
Embezzlement.
Bribery, extortion, kickbacks.
Nepotism, clientalism, favouritism, cronyism, money
laundering.
Susan Rose-Ackerman: “state capture”.
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Guillermo O’Donnell: the legal system should be the
superior institution before which all citizens are treated as
equals and it should be a legal guarantor of people’s rights
and freedoms.
The rule of law and judiciary are the pillars of the
democratic state.
O’Donnell stresses on the “democratic rule of law”.
Juan Linz and Alfred Stepan: when the legal system is
working free of corruption, it is just and impartial, it
contributes to the effectiveness of the state’s functions.
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Terry Lynn Karl: pacted transitions bring stability at the expense
of political development.
Patronage politics dictated by powerful elites and oligarchs.
FARC – armed struggle against corrupt officials.
Ordinary people excluded from the political life.
Erosion of political culture.
Elections marred by corruption.
Lack of trust in Colombian institutions.
Impunity.
Relations become personal rather than institutionalized.
Personalism eradicates continuity of government policies.
Larry Diamond: democratic “deconsolidation”.
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Narcotics business has devastating effects on the economy,
society and politics.
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The narcotics industry penetrates society and government.
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Corruption and illegal practices at all levels.
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Killings of inconvenient people unpunished due to compliance of
corrupt security forces.
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Drug cartels wage war against the Colombian state in opposition
to the practice of extradition.
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The judiciary prone to corrupt activities.
Weak & dependent judiciary.
Pressure from the executive and legislative.
Briberies, kickbacks, embezzlement.
Arbitrariness of the rule of law.
The judicial system lacks accountability and transparency.
Societal distrust in the legal system.
Impunity.
Inefficient judiciary impedes political & economic
development.
Failure to legally guarantee civil rights and freedoms.
Colombian democracy and stability are undermined by:
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omnipresent corruption
weak judicial system
systematic abrogation of the rule of law
drug industry
internal conflict