Values as a Strategic Constraint: How Cultural Values Undermine U.S. Foreign Policy in Colombia. What We Can learn From the Alliance for Progress to Reduce Risk of Failure With Plan Colombia

摘要

The experience of the Alliance for Progress program in the 1960s is analyzed and compared to the present Plan Colombia. Cultural values are identified as strategically significant factors influencing current U.S. strategy in Colombia. Traditional 'progress-resistant' values may explain the persistent weakness of Colombian state institutions to address internal conflict. The opening of the Colombian economy seems to have further constrained government policy while benefiting conflictive non-state actors. The risk of policy failure is high. Mitigating this risk requires that political 'end-state' objectives be given higher priority than counter-drug targets.