Colombia and the transformation of warfare: the end of ideology?

After nearly two centuries at war with itself, Colombia witnessed an opportunity for peace in 2016 when the government reached a celebrated agreement with the leftist rebels of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). Three years down the road, the peace agreement has frayed, and the aura of hope that initially surrounded it has depleted. Colombia now faces a transformation of warfare marked by what appears to be an 'end of ideology'. That is, rather than pursuing ideational goals for the achievement of a better society, the country's diverse array of armed groups appears to be fighting primarily for the maximisation of wealth and territory. We shall begin with a conceptual discussion, and then turn to the historical context of Colombian security. This will be followed by an analysis of the elements that led to the demise of the FARC, and to the proliferation of an assortment of illegal armed groups that dot the landscape of Colombia's transformation of war.