Creating Cali: the rise of popular democracy in the Cauca Valley, Colombia during the twentieth century

This dissertation examines the lives, struggles, and victories of the everyday men and women of the Cauca Valley most impacted by violence in the twentieth century. This dissertation explores the ways popular democracy flourished in the working-class barrios of Cali, Colombia before, during, and after la Violencia period. This dissertation makes three important contributions that enrich how Colombian history is understood: Popular democracy flourished in the working-class barrios of Cali, Colombia before, during, and after la Violencia; Afro-descendant Colombians, especially Afro-Colombian women, played a crucial role in creating and sustaining families, communities, and democracy during this period; and popular culture in the form of salsa music, working in conjunction with popular democratic groups, paved the way for the working class in Cali to become involved in city politics and community activism. Together, these arguments paint a different portrait of working-class urban life in Colombia. Rather than solely examining the shortcomings or contributions of national political parties and actors, this dissertation showcases the resiliency of everyday men and women, most of whom were Afro-descendant Colombians, who attempting to fight violence by organizing themselves and embracing democracy through social action.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference