Arms trafficking and Colombia / Kim Cragin, Bruce Hoffman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cragin, Kim.

Contributor:

Hoffman, Bruce, 1954-

National Defense Research Institute (U.S.)

United States. Defense Intelligence Agency.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Illegal arms transfers--Colombia.

Illegal arms transfers.

Arms transfers--Colombia.

Arms transfers.

Arms control.

Violence--Colombia.

Violence.

Colombia.

Insurgency--Colombia.

Insurgency.

Physical Description:

xxvi, 81 pages : maps ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : RAND, National Defense Research Institute, 2003.

Summary:

Colombia has experienced significant political instability and violence over the past century due to a number of factors -- the drug trade, a protracted insurgent conflict, internal corruption, and small-arms proliferation, the last being among the most serious of the country's problems. The authors identify the sources and routes used by arms traffickers to acquire, buy, sell, receive, transfer, and ship weapons. They also examine the various guerrilla groups, paramilitary organizations, criminal factions, and ordinary citizens who purchase and use these munitions. The authors then examine Colombia's political conflict through the lens of small-arms trafficking and conclude with policy implications for the U.S. government. The authors find that small-arms trafficking patterns -- the manner by which arms and munitions are acquired and distributed -- provide useful insights into the strategies used by insurgent groups engaged in conflict and a conflict's future evolution.

Contents:

Introduction

Violence in Colombia

Patterns of small- arms trafficking patterns into Colombia

Patterns of small-arms trafficking patterns inside Colombia

The wider context

Policy implications

Research methodology.

Notes:

"Prepared for the Defense Intelligence Agency."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 73-81).

"MR-1468"--P. [4] cover.

ISBN:

0833031449

OCLC:

52423824