Colombia’s armed conflict in regional and global context
Schedule
Wed Mar 18 2026 at 05:00 pm to 06:30 pm
UTC+00:00Location
Room S1, Alison Richard Building (POLIS), University of Cambridge | Cambridge, EN
About this Event
Colombia’s armed conflict in regional and global context: Peace prospects, Venezuela spill over, and geopolitics ahead of elections
Violence in Colombia is on the rise as numerous illegal armed groups compete with each other and the Colombian government for control of key territory. Almost a decade after the historic 2016 peace deal between the government and the largest armed group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP), national stability has yet to materialize. Current President Gustavo Petro entered office in 2022 with a plan for “Total Peace”. However, during his four years in office, the size of armed groups, as well as the frequency of attacks, has steadily increased. As Colombia approaches a new presidential election, the prospects for peace will depend not only on domestic dynamics, but also on the wider geopolitical environment. In particular, the uncertain situation in Venezuela continues to shape insecurity in Colombia’s border regions, affecting patterns of displacement, illicit economies, and armed group mobility across porous frontiers. At the same time, shifting geopolitics—including renewed great-power competition in the Western Hemisphere—underscore the importance of U.S. foreign policy, both in Colombia and across the region and beyond.
On the eve of the election, what are the prospects and enduring obstacles for peacemaking in Colombia? Dr Annette Idler will discuss the nature of Colombia’s ongoing security challenges and what we can expect to see as we near the end of the electoral season. The discussion will include an evaluation of how international, national, and local factors interact to influence the evolving landscape of insecurity. The seminar offers a relevant and innovative perspective on the past, present, and future of internal conflict in Colombia.
More about the speaker:
Dr Annette Idler is Associate Professor in Global Security, Blavatnik School of Government, and Founding Director of the Global Security Programme at Oxford’s Pembroke College. Before taking up her current role, she was the Director of Studies at the Changing Character of War Centre at Oxford and served as Fellow on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on International Security. Dr Idler previously worked with UNDP’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the German development cooperation, and as a Visiting Scholar at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University. Dr Idler advises governments and international organisations and is a regular expert for broadcast interviews for outlets such as Al Jazeera TV, BBC, CNN, France24, and Sky News.
Where is it happening?
Room S1, Alison Richard Building (POLIS), University of Cambridge, Alison Richard Building (POLIS), Cambridge, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00
