History and education in post-conflict Colombia

Abstract

In 2005, the Colombian government implemented the Law of Justice and Peace, which is now regarded as the first step towards the so-called post-conflict era. As a result of this law, many of the armed groups that had historically defied the state’s monopoly on violence have laid down their weapons. This process has been accompanied by a politics of history aimed at creating a “new national narrative.” In this article, we analyze if these politics have been capable of strengthening Colombia’s transition to peace. Furthermore, we carry out a review of public policies in the educational sector and analyze history-related contents in some of the most widely used school textbooks.