Case Study: Colombia's Strategic Culture
I. Introduction
The strategic cultural framework of Colombia is a result of three key elements comprising civil
warfare origins, combined with geopolitical considerations and economic development goals
(Luna & Kaltwasser, 2014). The geographic position of Colombia in Northwest South America
determines its role in regional dynamics because it shares borders with Venezuela, Brazil, Peru,
Ecuador, and Panama (Ojeda, 2013). The evolving security policies of Colombia now protect the
nation against continued insurgencies and drug trafficking as well as transnational criminal
organizations while facing challenges to national stability (Cepeda & Tickner, 2022). Regional
security cooperation and economic integration have advanced because of Colombia's role as the
main power in counter-narcotics and defense partnerships (Farah, 2012).
The strategic culture of Colombia requires thorough comprehension by the U.S. intelligence
community. The 2016 peace agreement between Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia (FARC) made Colombia a vital force for regional security maintenance. Ongoing
threats from FARC dissidents, criminal organizations, and Venezuelan migration test Colombia’s
resilience (Paetau, 2019). The analysis of Colombian strategic culture explores its basic
elements, including informational origins, collective identity, core beliefs, and accepted rules,
which are observed through interpretive frameworks and strategic expression methods. The
analysis examines Colombia's security policy alongside its criminal network interactions and
Venezuela's response to the Venezuelan migration to help the United States develop strategic
intelligence and policy.
II. Sources of Colombia’s Strategic Culture
The strategic culture of Colombia develops from the historical background, geographic
conditions, religious beliefs, and linguistic origins. The dominant religion, the Roman Catholic
Church, directs social values while shaping political structures together with human rights
principles and influences both legal systems and cultural frameworks (Trujillo, 2020; Berrios,
2019). Security policies that aim at protecting vulnerable populations, including Venezuelan
migrants, create policy implementation problems because they prefer state control over Catholic
humanitarian principles (Paetau, 2019). Colombia's wide range of geographical features,
including the Andes Mountains and Amazon rainforest, and the broad coastal regions, create
governance challenges that allow insurgent and criminal groups to operate in isolated regions
(Ospina, 2014; Murillo, 2003; Ojeda, 2013).
Spanish enables cultural connections to Latin America, whereas native languages strengthen
national cultural variety (Paetau, 2019). The country's formation through Spanish colonial rule
and independence movement, and La Violencia (1948–1958) and FARC conflicts developed a
national character based on regional unity and continuing strength (Farah, 2012; Cepeda &
Tickner, 2022). When the Cold War began, Colombia pledged itself to American counter-
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, communist policies such as backing the 1960s National Front counterinsurgency campaign. This
established the basis for its security-focused strategic culture (Murillo, 2003).
III. Identity
Since 1964, Colombia has pursued democratic rule while adapting to national development as an
emerging country (Sabatini et al., 2019). The country stands out in its region because of its
strong relationship with the US and free-market economic model (Trujillo, 2020). The national
identity of Colombia emerges from three distinct cultural elements, including indigenous
heritage, African heritage, and European heritage, while navigating socio-cultural distinctions
throughout the country (Luna & Kaltwasser, 2014). Modern characteristics define urban spaces
while traditional customs maintain their presence in rural areas, effectively creating
socioeconomic barriers that determine how people view their identity (Ojeda, 2013).
The Colombian government utilizes its expertise in counterterrorism and anti-narcotics to
improve regional stability, leading to leadership roles in the Pacific Alliance and joint military
operations with neighbors (Berrios, 2019). The national identity built on resilience, combined
with democracy and cooperation, serves as the driving force for Colombian national strategies
and their international diplomatic initiatives, making the country a leading security authority in
the region.
IV. Values
Historical conflicts and existing crime threats within Colombia have led the nation to establish
security and stability as its primary strategic cultural objective (Ospina, 2014). Government
funding supports the modernization of military capabilities such as drones and cyberwarfare
operations while receiving intelligence support from U.S. and NATO forces to overcome
present-day challenges (Sabatini et al., 2019). The consistent election process in Colombia
demonstrates democratic values, which prove the nation's dedication to democratic governance
(Paetau, 2019). Colombia seeks regional domination of Latin American markets through trade
agreements, infrastructure development, and foreign investment (Farah, 2012).
Family and community structures guide social policies through collective support, but security
priorities sometimes replace these values, mainly in violence-affected rural regions (Trujillo,
2020). As part of testing its core values, Colombia used humanitarian aid to support over 2
million Venezuelan migrants while focusing on border control, which demonstrates its pragmatic
approach towards compassion and security management (Paetau, 2019). Colombia's domestic
and international policies are directed by a vision of ensuring security while promoting economic
progression and societal unity.
V. Norms
The Colombian judicial system defends democracy together with human rights and civil liberties
yet battles corruption alongside political violence which became evident during the 2020 judicial
official scandals (Cepeda & Tickner, 2022). The security norms establish military forces and
This study source was downloaded by 100000898495062 from CourseHero.com on 05-13-2025 02:53:01 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/249136427/Case-StudyFINALdocx/
I. Introduction
The strategic cultural framework of Colombia is a result of three key elements comprising civil
warfare origins, combined with geopolitical considerations and economic development goals
(Luna & Kaltwasser, 2014). The geographic position of Colombia in Northwest South America
determines its role in regional dynamics because it shares borders with Venezuela, Brazil, Peru,
Ecuador, and Panama (Ojeda, 2013). The evolving security policies of Colombia now protect the
nation against continued insurgencies and drug trafficking as well as transnational criminal
organizations while facing challenges to national stability (Cepeda & Tickner, 2022). Regional
security cooperation and economic integration have advanced because of Colombia's role as the
main power in counter-narcotics and defense partnerships (Farah, 2012).
The strategic culture of Colombia requires thorough comprehension by the U.S. intelligence
community. The 2016 peace agreement between Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia (FARC) made Colombia a vital force for regional security maintenance. Ongoing
threats from FARC dissidents, criminal organizations, and Venezuelan migration test Colombia’s
resilience (Paetau, 2019). The analysis of Colombian strategic culture explores its basic
elements, including informational origins, collective identity, core beliefs, and accepted rules,
which are observed through interpretive frameworks and strategic expression methods. The
analysis examines Colombia's security policy alongside its criminal network interactions and
Venezuela's response to the Venezuelan migration to help the United States develop strategic
intelligence and policy.
II. Sources of Colombia’s Strategic Culture
The strategic culture of Colombia develops from the historical background, geographic
conditions, religious beliefs, and linguistic origins. The dominant religion, the Roman Catholic
Church, directs social values while shaping political structures together with human rights
principles and influences both legal systems and cultural frameworks (Trujillo, 2020; Berrios,
2019). Security policies that aim at protecting vulnerable populations, including Venezuelan
migrants, create policy implementation problems because they prefer state control over Catholic
humanitarian principles (Paetau, 2019). Colombia's wide range of geographical features,
including the Andes Mountains and Amazon rainforest, and the broad coastal regions, create
governance challenges that allow insurgent and criminal groups to operate in isolated regions
(Ospina, 2014; Murillo, 2003; Ojeda, 2013).
Spanish enables cultural connections to Latin America, whereas native languages strengthen
national cultural variety (Paetau, 2019). The country's formation through Spanish colonial rule
and independence movement, and La Violencia (1948–1958) and FARC conflicts developed a
national character based on regional unity and continuing strength (Farah, 2012; Cepeda &
Tickner, 2022). When the Cold War began, Colombia pledged itself to American counter-
This study source was downloaded by 100000898495062 from CourseHero.com on 05-13-2025 02:53:01 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/249136427/Case-StudyFINALdocx/
, communist policies such as backing the 1960s National Front counterinsurgency campaign. This
established the basis for its security-focused strategic culture (Murillo, 2003).
III. Identity
Since 1964, Colombia has pursued democratic rule while adapting to national development as an
emerging country (Sabatini et al., 2019). The country stands out in its region because of its
strong relationship with the US and free-market economic model (Trujillo, 2020). The national
identity of Colombia emerges from three distinct cultural elements, including indigenous
heritage, African heritage, and European heritage, while navigating socio-cultural distinctions
throughout the country (Luna & Kaltwasser, 2014). Modern characteristics define urban spaces
while traditional customs maintain their presence in rural areas, effectively creating
socioeconomic barriers that determine how people view their identity (Ojeda, 2013).
The Colombian government utilizes its expertise in counterterrorism and anti-narcotics to
improve regional stability, leading to leadership roles in the Pacific Alliance and joint military
operations with neighbors (Berrios, 2019). The national identity built on resilience, combined
with democracy and cooperation, serves as the driving force for Colombian national strategies
and their international diplomatic initiatives, making the country a leading security authority in
the region.
IV. Values
Historical conflicts and existing crime threats within Colombia have led the nation to establish
security and stability as its primary strategic cultural objective (Ospina, 2014). Government
funding supports the modernization of military capabilities such as drones and cyberwarfare
operations while receiving intelligence support from U.S. and NATO forces to overcome
present-day challenges (Sabatini et al., 2019). The consistent election process in Colombia
demonstrates democratic values, which prove the nation's dedication to democratic governance
(Paetau, 2019). Colombia seeks regional domination of Latin American markets through trade
agreements, infrastructure development, and foreign investment (Farah, 2012).
Family and community structures guide social policies through collective support, but security
priorities sometimes replace these values, mainly in violence-affected rural regions (Trujillo,
2020). As part of testing its core values, Colombia used humanitarian aid to support over 2
million Venezuelan migrants while focusing on border control, which demonstrates its pragmatic
approach towards compassion and security management (Paetau, 2019). Colombia's domestic
and international policies are directed by a vision of ensuring security while promoting economic
progression and societal unity.
V. Norms
The Colombian judicial system defends democracy together with human rights and civil liberties
yet battles corruption alongside political violence which became evident during the 2020 judicial
official scandals (Cepeda & Tickner, 2022). The security norms establish military forces and
This study source was downloaded by 100000898495062 from CourseHero.com on 05-13-2025 02:53:01 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/249136427/Case-StudyFINALdocx/
