Revolutionary Social Change in Colombia: The Origin and Direction of the FARC-EP - Softcover

Brittain, James J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 074532875X ISBN 13: 9780745328751

Publisher: Pluto Press, 2010

Synopsis

This book presents an insider's account of Columbia's internal conflict. At the forefront are the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP).

Although they are one of the most powerful military forces in Latin American history, little is known about the FARC-EP. James J. Brittain explains where and why this political military movement came into existence and assesses whether the methods employed by the insurgency have the potential to free those marginalised in Colombia.

As democratic socialism develops in Venezuela and Bolivia, Brittain's fascinating study assesses the relevance of armed struggle to 21st century Latin American politics. This is an essential title for those wishing to develop a full understanding of the continent.

By evaluating the FARC-EP's actions, ideological construction, and their theoretical placement, the book gauges how this guerrilla movement relates to revolutionary theory and practice and through what tangible mechanisms, if any, they are creating a new Colombia.

About this title

About the Author

James J. Brittain is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is also the co-founder of the Atlantic Canada-Colombia Research Group. James' primary research and teaching interests include the praxis of social change in Latin America, the relevance of classical social theory in contemporary geopolitics, and alternative forms of international development. James' most recent publications related to Colombia have appeared in Controversia, Cuadernos de Sociología, Development, Dollars & Sense, Global Dialogue, Journal for Peasant Studies, Labour, Capital and Society, Monthly Review, New Politics, Peace Review, Rethinking Marxism, Socialist Studies, The Saskatchewan Institute for Public Policy, Z Magazine, and Zed Books.

Dr. James Petras is Professor Emeritus in Sociology at Binghamton University, New York. He is the author of numerous works on Latin America and global development, including Globaloney: el lenguaje imperial, los intelectuales y la izquierda (2000), Hegemonia dos Estados Unidos no Nova Milênio (2001) and Unmasking Globlization: Imperialism of the Twenty-first Century (2001)

Review

"A theoretically and empirically rich analysis of the insurgency and its historical origins. This will become a reference point for scholars seeking to understanding the structural origins of Colombia's ongoing conflict." —Dr Doug Stokes, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.  "A valuable study of the causes, meaning and significance of the armed insurgency in Colombia. It [presents a welcome break from the hegemony of the apolitical discourses that have dominated the scholarship on Colombia's conflict."—Nazih Richani, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Latin American Studies, Kean University   "Based on extensive first-hand research in guerrilla-controlled regions, Brittain chronicles the origins, development and achievements of Colombia’s FARC-EP while dispelling many of the myths surrounding the rebel group. This book is a must-read for any scholars and activists interested in both the history of social struggle and its future directions." —Terry Gibbs, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Centre for International Studies, Cape Breton University, Canada

Edition details

• Publisher: Pluto Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 074532875X
• ISBN 13: 9780745328751
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 352