Colombia is one of the most unequal countries in the world. So it’s no surprise extreme inequality has been a major catalyst for the national protests that started in April and continue to spread throughout the country. The demonstrations, which initially began as a response to proposed tax reforms, have evolved into a mass critique of the country’s economic policies.
Yet while citizens rally against the country’s economic problems, Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez has exalted its economic performance. Meanwhile, he’s deployed military police to suppress the movement in the name of protecting the country’s economic growth.
These two economic experiences are direct products of Colombia’s model of economic development, which elites have equated with progress. This model is rooted in neoliberal policies that prioritize economic growth over structural equality and disproportionately benefit the urban elite. In other words, Colombia’s story of national progress reflects a deeply segregated reality among its citizens.
