Colombia: A Concise Contemporary History, Third Edition

Colombia: A Concise Contemporary History, Third Edition
by: Michael LaRosa (Author),Germán Mejía(Author)
Publisher:Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publication Date: 15 Oct. 2023
Language:English
Print Length:312 pages
ISBN-10:1538177102
ISBN-13:9781538177105
Book Description
Updated to include the historic 2022 presidential election, this deeply informed and accessible book traces the history of Colombia thematically over the past two centuries. LaRosa and Mejía move beyond the common perception of a failed state to explore the rich heritage and dynamism that have characterized Colombia past and present.
About the Author
Review During the last decade, Colombia underwent a tectonic transformation, securing a peace deal with Latin America’s longest-running insurgent group, electing its first-ever leftist president, and even starring as the backdrop for a record-breaking animated Disney film. The rest of the world is quickly discovering Colombia, and LaRosa and Mejia’s third edition of Colombia: A Concise Contemporary History is a peerless companion for scholars, practitioners, and curious minds seeking a greater understanding of the South American nation in all its spellbinding complexity.This book offers a refreshing perspective on Colombian history, underscoring the factors that have fostered viability for the Colombian state and unity within its society, in spite of the violence, inequalities, geographic obstacles, and crises that have continually threatened to pull the country apart. The concise second edition of this synthetic and engaging narrative explores a complex yet resilient contemporary Colombian society and examines possible paths toward a peaceful future.This insightful book grounds the reader in the social and economic roots of Colombia’s long history of violence, but more importantly, it offers a banquet of insights into Colombian identity and nationhood–ranging from its early use of aerial ski lifts for coffee distribution to the country’s literature, art, and theatre. It’s all here and it’s a fascinating read. About the Author Germán R. Mejía is professor of history at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá.