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Ten years after the FARC laid down their weapons and after Juan Manuel Santos received the Nobel Peace Prize, former Colombian president reflects on a deep reflection about a world that, according to him, seems to have forgotten the value of negotiation. In an interview published by El País, Santos expresses his concern about growing political polarization, distrust among power actors, and the loss of meaning of international rules that have historically enabled peaceful conflict resolution.
The path to peace: a decades-long process
The peace process between the FARC and the Colombian government was one of the longest and most complex in Latin American history. It began in 2012, when then-President Juan Manuel Santos announced the start of formal negotiations with the FARC, an armed group that had been in conflict with the Colombian state for more than five decades. Although talks began in 2012, the final agreement was signed in 2016, after more than four years of meetings, intermediate agreements, and numerous political obstacles.
The peace agreement, known as the 2016 Peace Agreement, established the dissolution of the FARC as an armed organization, the surrender of weapons, and the recognition of social, economic, and political rights for communities affected by the conflict. This agreement was ratified by the Colombian Congress and approved by the people through a referendum in 2016, making it a democratically validated process.
International recognition was significant: Santos received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018, becoming the first Colombian president to be awarded the prize. The Nobel Committee's decision was motivated by Santos's efforts to promote peace through negotiation, rather than resorting to violence or repression.
A world that has forgotten negotiation
In his reflection, Santos points out that the current world seems to have lost the value of negotiation as a fundamental tool for resolving conflicts. Although the world has experienced moments of political tension, such as the wars in Syria, Ukraine, or the conflict in North Africa, the dominant approach remains direct confrontation, war, or the use of force.
The former president emphasizes that, instead of seeking solutions through dialogue, many governments and political leaders resort to manipulation, disinformation, and polarization to consolidate their power. According to him, this creates an environment in which peaceful solutions are seen as weak or ineffective, fueling cycles of violence and distrust.
In Colombia's case, in his view, it demonstrates that it is possible to build a lasting agreement through dialogue, transparency, and the commitment of all involved parties. However, this model has not been extended to other contexts, especially in regions where violence continues to be a tool of power.
Power and distrust
Santos analyzes how power in the modern world has transformed. Instead of being exercised through respect for rules and agreements, power is built through manipulation of public opinion, control of media, and the creation of social divisions.
The former president points out that distrust among governments, political sectors, and citizens has grown exponentially. This distrust is fueled by the perception that leaders do not act in the collective interest, but rather in their own interests or in favor of specific groups.
In this context, power becomes more individualistic and less institutional. Santos criticizes that many leaders act as