During a June 12 American Community Media (ACOM) news briefing, political scientists, researchers and journalists described the election as a reflection of broader issues that have shaped Colombia for decades, including public safety, organized crime, land rights, human rights and the country's ongoing efforts to strengthen democratic institutions after years of armed conflict.
Colombia’s presidential runoff election on June 21 is being closely watched throughout Latin America, but experts say the vote is about much more than choosing the country’s next president.
During a June 12 American Community Media (ACOM) news briefing, political scientists, researchers and journalists described the election as a reflection of broader issues that have shaped Colombia for decades, including public safety, organized crime, land rights, human rights and the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen democratic institutions after years of armed conflict.
Rather than viewing the election simply as a contest between political ideologies, panelists said many Colombian voters are responding to very different lived experiences depending on where they live.
Beatriz Magaloni, professor of political science and senior fellow at Stanford University, said the term “polarization” does not fully explain what is happening in Colombia.
Instead, she described two very different realities.
In many cities and suburban communities, residents are primarily concerned about crime, extortion and personal safety. In many rural areas, however, communities continue to face armed groups competing for control of territory, natural resources and illegal trafficking routes. Those communities also experience displacement, violence and disputes over land ownership.
“What we are observing is really not ideological per se,” Magaloni said. “It’s the way people experience democracy in their everyday lives and the way they experience what they see as the state failing them.”
She said those different experiences often lead voters to support very different approaches to solving the country’s problems.
Journalist and documentary photographer Manuel Ortiz shared stories from recent reporting trips to Colombia, where he documented the experiences of Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities affected by violence and displacement.
Ortiz described visiting communities where families continue working to recover land they say was lost during decades of armed conflict. In one region, he reported on tensions between two Indigenous communities that national headlines portrayed as a simple local dispute. After spending several days with both groups, however, Ortiz said he found a far more complicated story rooted in historical land conflicts and displacement.
“The experts are Beatriz and Alex,” Ortiz said modestly before presenting his field reporting. “But I’d like to share some of the stories that we’ve been documenting in Colombia.”
According to Ortiz, many residents expressed hope that future governments will continue efforts to address longstanding land disputes through dialogue rather than renewed violence.
Panelists said the outcome of the election could have implications beyond Colombia because the country plays an important role in regional migration, trade and security.
Questions from journalists during the briefing focused on how the election could influence migration patterns, democratic governance and regional stability throughout Latin America. Speakers also discussed concerns about organized crime, the implementation of peace agreements and protecting the rights of communities most affected by violence.
Magaloni noted that surveys conducted across several Latin American countries show many citizens remain committed to democratic values but are increasingly frustrated when governments fail to address everyday concerns such as public safety and security.
“Democracy has to deliver,” she said, explaining that public confidence often depends on whether governments can effectively respond to citizens’ needs.
Throughout the discussion, speakers emphasized that Colombia’s election cannot be understood through a simple left-versus-right political lens.
Instead, they described a nation continuing to grapple with the long-term effects of armed conflict, displacement, organized crime and competing visions for how to improve public safety while protecting democratic institutions and human rights. Those observations reflected the perspectives of the experts participating in the briefing.
As Colombians prepare to cast their ballots, the panelists agreed on one point: the issues facing the country extend far beyond Election Day. The next administration will inherit challenges that have developed over generations, making the runoff not only a decision about political leadership, but also about how Colombia continues its effort to build a more secure and stable future.
