PODCAST

Peace and Referendum: Colombia's Failure

October 6, 2016

On today's 'Global Exchange' podcast, join host Colin Robertson as he explores the recent Colombian peace deal, and the failed referendum which followed. Colin speaks with two experts on Columbia -- Stephen Randall and Paul Durand -- to gain insight on what this series of events means for Columbia, and the world at large.

What does a failed peace deal mean for the future of Columbia? Will FARC continue to play a key role in the Colombian civil war moving forward? What's Canada's role in the conflict? All this and more are discussed on this week's episode of 'The Global Exchange'.

Bios:

• Colin Robertson (host):- A former Canadian diplomat, Colin Robertson is Vice President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and a Senior Advisor to Dentons LLP.
• Stephen Randall: Emeritus Professor of History and former director of the Latin American Research Centre. His most recent book on Colombia-United States relations will be published next month by Random House Colombia.
• Paul Durand: served as ambassador to Costa Rica, with concurrent accreditation to Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, and subsequently as ambassador to Chile, then to the Organization of America States (OAS) in Washington.

Related Links:

• Stephen Randall - "Relaciones Entre Colombia y Estados Unidos Desde 1974 [Spanish]" (COMING SOON)
  This study traces the history of Colombian-American relations from the administration of Alfonso Lopez Michelsen through that of Juan Manuel Santos. Although a bilateral study the volume concentrates on Colombian foreign policies and domestic politics, examining those factors which shaped the Colombian approach to relations with the United States. The study places the bilateral relationship in the context of the late stages of the Cold War, the emergence of Colombia as the major country in international narcotics trafficking, the rise of paramilitarism and its demobilization, efforts to deal with guerrilla insurgencies, the impact of 9/11 on the bilateral relationship and the impact of Plan Colombia.
• Paul Durand - "Who Lost the Caribbean?" (COMING SOON on cgai.ca)
  There was a time, in the not too distant past, when relations between Canada and the countries then known as the Commonwealth Caribbean (now the Caribbean Community or CARICOM), were close and mutually beneficial. Canadian capabilities complemented Caribbean economic development requirements, and their support as a group in international institutions was highly valued. Meetings at the level of prime minister were organized on a regular basis; personal relations among them were informal and friendly. However, since the late nineties to the present day, those positive relations have drifted to the margins of Canadian foreign policy. Why did this happen?

Book Recommendations:

• Stephen Randall - "Italian Short Stories"
• Paul Durand - "Whose Man in Havana?: Adventures from the Far Side of Diplomacy" | "Dismantling the Empire: America's Last Best Hope"