Social Justice in Colombia, Historical through today Essay

Social Justice in Colombia, Historical through today - Essay Example Popular landmarks include the Caribbean coast to the north, the Pacific coast to the west, and the Amazonia rainforest in the south-east. The land area of Colombia contains rich natural resources required for agricultural and commercial systems (Merchant, 4). Columbia’s apt topographic location, rich natural resources, and good climate patterns were the reasons why colonists are being driven towards Colombia to create subsistence- and market-oriented societies. The arrival of the Spanish colonizers has created a diverse population of 41 million people of Spanish descendants, African-slave descendants, immigrants, and indigenous people. It is believed that social injustices peaked during comprehensive land reform and slavery when Columbian government has been struggling for democracy. Social Injustice and Colonialism The development of social gap and inequality in Colombia reveals a historical link to colonialism, particularly to the cognitive and institutional path dependence between Spanish colonialism and contemporary Colombian society as evidence by violence, exploitation, slavery, and highly visible inequity in Colombia (McCormack, 106). The encomienda system, which was established during early colonialism, is an example of exploitation, slavery, and social injustice experienced by Columbians. This is a labor system that bonds colonialists and farmers. Colonialists were given free land and labor from Columbians and those who were under the hacienda of the military or local rulers have to work hard, endure cruelty, be a slave, until death succumb the worker. In addition to agrarian control, colonialists have also a hand at Columbia’s economy. Spanish rulers have full control and the church acts as the sole bank and source of education and social services. Excessive taxations are being implemented in a country where private ownership and union formations are prohibited. The economy was not good until Colombia gained its independence. Columbia ha s become independent but not in all aspects. Economy booms but not the status of the majority of farmers in Colombia. They remained as tenants and laborers and property rights became an issue as economy booms. Let us have a closer look on coca workers. While the Liberal and Conservative presidential candidates’ battle against each other, agrarian and poverty issues remained high. As a result of poverty, coca boom began in late 1970s and the high profits derived from the lure of drugs have resulted in massive migration of unemployed and landless peasants to the FARC-controlled colonized regions (Leech, n.p.). Thus, social injustices have pushed local farmers to become coca workers to ease poverty and improve employment conditions. Sad to say, the guerillas who claimed that they are only fighting for their rights were also in partnership with the drug lords. Guerillas controlled coca growing regions while drug lords took charge of production and trafficking. FARC or political f orces also see the benefits of coca boom as the taxes imposed on maintaining social order in the local population increased dramatically. Collected taxes are then used for improving weaponry and military forces. Coca boom partnership did not stay for long and narco-landowners organized own paramilitary services while drug