The construction of political subcultures in Colombia: the traditional parties as political antipodes during La Violencia, 1946-1964

Abstract

The traditional Colombian political parties, unlike other western political entities, are characterized by a strong cultural dimension and, therefore, are considered political subcultures (Pécaut). The affiliation to one of the parties had great importance on the outbreak and course of the civil war in the mid XX century: La Violencia. Despite the transcendence of La Violencia, most scientists have considered the differences between the parties, which seemed to justify such bloodshed, as preexisting. Through the analysis of the contemporary press discourse, this article researches on how political subcultures were built through differences between the two traditional parties, which were subjectively considered as fundamental. Both parties¿ representatives stressed the political, philosophical, cultural and human oppositions between the Liberal and the Conservative parties. Polarization in the political field is described as dichotomization of the social world.

Keywords

• Colombian traditional parties
• La Violencia
• Collective party identity