Will Spurr

Ending 60 Years of Solitude Will Spurr

"Colombian history repeats itself; first as tragedy, then as FARC". The 1948 assassination of the charismatic left-liberal politician, Jorge Gaitán, plunged Colombia into a decade of brutal civil turmoil. This conflict then engendered the rise of anti-state guerrilla movements, and their counter-power, the paramilitaries. After more than half a century of chaos, the green shoots of peace are emerging from the Havana negotiating table; and an end to the morally bankrupt war appears possible. But only if the forces responsible for the violence recognise and rectify their past errors, and only if the social conditions that have fuelled the engine of war are improved. Successful implementation of the peace process can close the long chapter of conflict in Colombian history, and herald in an exciting new age of cultural prosperity. Based on extensive research, including a series of interviews over the summer leading up to the signing of the peace deal, journalist Will Spurr tracks the historical roots of the Colombian conflict, including outlining the complex web of competing interests present throughout the war. He also details the hurdles that must be overcome in order for the peace process to be meaningful, and illustrates his hopes for the future of the endlessly fascinating nation of Magical Realism.