Colombia in the new era of globalization

Colombia, one of the countries more affected by guerilla and drug trafficking is currently in the process of recovering its original image as a beautiful and touristic country. For decades, Colombia has struggled against paramilitary and subversive groups that in numerous occasions decimated the native communities and displaced hundreds of peoples from their native lands, for drug dealers and guerillas be able to use that land for coca plantations. President Uribe, has received millions of dollars from the USA government to support the combat against drug dealers and guerilla groups. Also, Colombia has entered into globalization by becoming a part of the New Trade Agreement for Central and South America. It is obvious that this process will increase the circulation of global merchandises in the nation, and Colombia has to face the social inequalities that globalization brings. As it has been the case of Mexico after NAFTA, the breech between the rich and the poor enormously grows with globalization and neo-liberal politics reaching high levels of inequality; the same is happening now a days in Colombia just after few years of having started business with the richest countries of the globe.
However, questions remain : Will be the new trade agreement able to diminish violence in this lacerated country? Will globalization be able to decrease the level of poverty in the nation? Disenfranchised communities such as blacks and Amerindians will be able to become respected and supported for further development of their ethnic traditions and cultures?

School children studying palenquero language in San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia