Colombia's National Security Council and the fluid architecture for presidential counselling

Conceptions of security and defence in Colombia have been conditioned by the internal conflict against armed insurgent groups and shaped Colombia’s institutions. The current institutions date from 1965, one year after the appearance of the two main insurgent groups: the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) . In response, the Superior National Defence Council (SNDC) was formed with high State officials to coordinate and legitimize government action in the face of social turmoil and increasing unpopularity. For many years, security and defence agendas were separate. Defence issues, which since the 1950s included the police, were handled by the Defence Ministry, while security, understood as internal public order, was handled by the Government Ministry and a separate Security Council. The Security Council focused on public order and exchanging information among national (not regional) government organizations. In 1992 the Councils merged to create a...