Burning a Nation: Pablo Escobar, Colombia, and the Cold War

Abstract

While Colombia may have gained its independence in the 1800s, it remains a melting pot of instability and turmoil.  Pablo Escobar used the instability caused by La Violencia, and that was exacerbated by the Cold War, to pursue his political and personal ambitions.  However, this same instability eventually resulted in his downfall.  Escobar’s escapades during the 1980s impacted large swathes of the Americas, including Nicaragua, as well as a particular nation in the north: the United States.  The evidence presented in this paper suggests that Escobar, coming from an impoverished background, sought to better his personal position, as well as the position of the average Colombian.  However, after being forced out of government, Escobar resorted to terrorism in an act of revenge against those who viewed him as an outsider, and who he viewed as an enemy.  It is during this period of terrorism that Escobar’s legacy is defined, as he waged war against the Colombian government, taking countless innocent lives.  This is the story of a man who once hoped to improve his nation — albeit through illegal means — but ultimately ravaged the nation; nearly burning it to the ground.