Inside Colombia: Drugs, Democracy and War. Foreword by Jenny Pearce

The War in Colombia
The conflict in Colombia is at least 40 years old - the longest war in the hemisphere - yet only recently has it become the focus of international attention. Colombia has become the third largest recipient of military aid from the US, but while this money is largely used to fund the war, there seems little chance for peace. International concern and monitoring is needed to support the weakened state in Colombia, but in ways which improve chances for peace rather than escalating violence.

Inside Colombia
Inside Colombia details the human rights and internal refugee crisis in the country, describes how drugs fuel the economy and the politics of conflict, and provides an historical overview of the last 40 years. The book shows how the United States? discourse on Colombia, with its focus on a ?war on drugs? and ?war on terrorism?, reveals more about US aims than about the problems faced by Colombia.

The effects, as Noam Chomsky says, are clear: ?Colombia has had the worst human rights record in the hemisphere in the last decade while it has been the leading recipient of US arms and training for the Western hemisphere??

Written in a clear, accessible style, Inside Colombia is an indispensable introduction: a who?s who of the state, paramilitary and guerrilla actors; an overview of the economy, history, politics; a review of the US-sponsored Plan Colombia, and the prospects for peace. Drawing together the best journalism and academic work published in Colombia and internationally, Inside Colombia includes a wealth of facts and figures, testimonies and suggestions for further reading.

Grace Livingstone is a journalist currently writing for The Guardian from Venezuela.

Professor Jenny Pearce has been going to and writing about Colombia for the past 25 years.