Despite economic and security gains over the past decade, Colombia continues to be widely known for violence and drugs. Since the 1960s over 200,000 Colombians have died and three million have lost their homes in the fighting that first began as a struggle for land and social equality. Those of European ancestry have enjoyed the most wealth and the best opportunities for jobs, education, and healthcare while the majority of the indigenous, African, and multi-racial populations live in poverty. In the late 1960s this inequality led to the formation of two rebel groups that wanted to take over the government, claiming that they would run the country with the interests of the people in mind. But instead of helping to improve Colombia and conditions for the poor, the two main rebel groups, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) only brought more violence and unrest. In response to the creation of these groups, the United Self-Defense Force of Colombia (AUC) was formed by citizens claiming to protect the state and themselves. Ultimately, all three groups have been involved in kidnappings, massacres, assassinations, and torture, leaving the average Colombian caught in the middle of violence that has lasted over 40 years. Today the AUC, FARC, and ELN are all on the United States' list of foreign terrorist groups. Former president Uribe made strides towards tempering the strength of rebel groups. Current president Juan Manuel Santos Calderon has continued to make national security a priority.
Colombia's civil war is difficult to resolve because of the involvement of the AUC, FARC, and ELN in the illegal drug trade. Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine in the world and it supplies upwards of 90 percent of the cocaine found in the United States. Crime related to drugs is the second highest cause of death in the country, and the sale of drugs provides the money that the AUC, FARC, and ELN need to continue fighting and buying weapons. Although the government of Colombia has tried to put a stop to cocaine production, efforts have been largely ineffective because of the high demand for illegal drugs around the world. In addition, growing coca (the plant used to make cocaine) is often the most lucrative means for peasant farmers to earn enough money to feed their families.
In recent years the US has sponsored the destruction of coca fields in Colombia in order to stop the flow of drugs into the US. This project has been harmful for rural farmers because of the effects on the environment, human health, and their ability to earn a living. Many complain that the chemicals used to destroy the coca fields also poison the soil, not allowing farmers to grow anything at all, and because the poison is sprayed from planes, it often destroys surrounding crops as well as coca plants. In addition, many argue that the destruction of coca is unfair since the plant has traditional use in medicines and religious ceremonies. Fortunately, in some regions, with the help of various nonprofit organizations, peasant farmers have begun to turn to different agricultural and income generation activities such as the production of arts and crafts. Growing and harvesting certain plants indigenous to the region allow farmers and artisans to distance themselves from the drug trade and the violent civil war and slowly move their country towards peace.
In 2011 the IMF declared that Colombia’s economic growth was the 3rd strongest in the region because of the rising price of the country's raw materials and increased access to financing and capital. While peace will not come easily to Colombia, given the illicit drug trade and security issues that the country faces, the economic improvement and the governmental efforts demonstrate marked progress.
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