Colombian Territorial Organization in the Face of a Contemporary Trend Towards Federalization

Abstract

We find ourselves in the middle of a global paradigm shift from the Unitary State to the Federal State. In this context, I analyze Colombia’s territorial organization. I seek to answer the question as to which stage Colombia finds itself in terms of the strengthening of its sub-units, which has been happening since the 1950’s. To resolve this question, this article studies the different concepts of state organization, as well as the different types of autonomy and two of the cases most similar to Colombia’s: France and Spain. With the comparison between Colombian territorial organization and the theory and practice of state organization, I conclude that a strong trend toward local self-government exists in Colombia. However, the framework of Colombia’s Constitution favours a unitary tradition that makes possible only a local self-administration.