After the war of independence Colombia emerged from Spanish Colonialism as part of the Republic of New Granada which included Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. Venezuela and Ecuador separated in 1830; Panama in 1903. By the middle of the century traditional parties started several civil wars fighting over, the structure of the state. A very Liberal constitution was promulgated in 1863. In reaction to this Constitution, conservatives -after a civil war- promulgated a new chart in 1886 which, with many amendments, last until 1991.

The period between 1886 and 1939 is known as the Conservative Hegemony or also the Regeneration. Several important events occurred at that time: the industry of coffee was began, the One thousands days civil war -the greatest of Latin America nineteenth-century civil wars, with a 100.000 estimated deaths in a total population of 4 millions- the separation of Panama assured by USA intervention, the constitutional reform of 1910, the rapid economic growth due to the USA indemnification for its role in Panama and to the coffee expansion, and popular manifestation of workers followed by state repression - massacre in the banana zone- .

The Liberal party won the elections in 1930. Tension between the traditional parties grew as a consequence of the labor legislation, which introduced fundamental organization rights and began process of incorporating labor into the state. The Liberal dissident Jorge Eliecer Gaitan formed a third party named Union Nacional Izquierdista Revolucionaria (UNIR) and began to champion the cause of urban and rural workers. The reformist government of Alfonso Lopez Pumarjo through a constitutional amendment open the possibilities for an agrarian reform and created a liberal labor code. However Conservative party led by Lauriano Gomez, denounce the reforms as partisans, anti-Catholic and communist.

The tension between traditional parties derives in a new civil war called la Violencia. The starting point of the war was the assassination of the popular leader Jorge Eliecer Gaitan in 1948. Liberal insurrection then spread to provincial capitals and countryside. Liberals withdrew from government and abstained for presidential elections of 1950 which brought into power the fundamentalist leader Laureano Gomez. The terror spread all over the country. Government fell from power in military coup in 1953. After pacification of the country and a relative economical prosperity, traditional parties sang an agreement, withdraw support to militaries, took over political power and created the Frente Nacional.

During the National Front (1958-1974), Liberals and Conservatives alternate presidency and share power and government posts at all levels. Political violence between traditional parties ended up but clientelism grew and political participation decrease considerably due the lack of competition among political parties and several guerrilla movements were created.

Political repression, abuse of constitutional emergency powers and the inefficacy of several attempts to introduce social reforms characterize the period between 74 and 82. President Belisario Betancourt (1982-1986) focused on peace negotiation and cease-fire with the guerrilla. The M-19 takeover of the Palace of Justice in 1985 doomed the peace process.

By the middle of 80 narcotraffickers have acquire great economic power and wanted to participate in the political arena. President Barco (1986-1990) initiated a bloody war against the drug mafias. In 1990, during presidential campaign three candidates were assassinated. Barco succesfully negotiated peace with the M-19.

In 1991 a new constitution was promulgated with great hope of pacification and political transformation. Nevertheless, the growth of guerrilla, mafias and paramilitary groups undercut the possibilities of change brought with the new constitution