LE3 .A278 2010

2010

Sacouman, Jim

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

Sociology

Sociology

This thesis examines how contemporary Colombia is a fascist state, through the explanation of five key definitions of fascism, as outlined by Michael Mann. The work analyses the terminology and the existence of far right reactionism in Colombia by giving direct examples of nationalism, statism, transcendence, cleansing and paramilitarism, as they currently apply therein. Colombia has an overwhelmingly high rate of human rights violations. These violations are carried out primarily by paramilitaries, which are aided by US military and national security forces and are regularly covered up by the legal system. Almost any opposition of the government is met with authoritarian consequences. Any form of resistance to the state and its facilitation of neoliberal capitalism has been criminalized. The current government has deemed the majority of the population to be terrorists or some variation of an internal enemy. Even non-governmental organizations from outside the country are deemed as such. A larger percentage of the population is living in dire poverty and many do not have running water, sanitary living conditions or electricity. Despite the assumption that life could not get worse, there is a massive dispossession rate, so those who have very little often end up with nothing at all.

The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:673