Democracy and Violence: The Colombian Paradox

This study argues that the Colombian paradox between formal democracy and endemic political violence is a direct result of the narrow polity established by elite pacts. Through an analysis of the Colombian situation and empirical evidence related to human rights violations this study considers the limitations of elite pacts as a mechanism for democratic transition and consolidation. Eva Irene Tuft is a political scientist. She spent four years as a human rights researcher in Colombia. She is currently working as Coordination Consultant for Research and Training Programmes at the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), Santa Domingo, the Dominican Republic