Demystifying Colombia’s Foreign Policy

Exploring Foundations and Practical Implications

Resumen

The conceptualization and execution of foreign policy in Colombia and Latin America face significant challenges, particularly within foreign affairs agencies and diplomatic services. A major concern is the prevailing tendency in the literature to attribute these difficulties solely to political factors, often overlooking the conceptual foundations critical for the effective implementation of political actions. In addition, scholars often struggle to clearly define and distinguish foreign policy from international politics. To address these issues, this study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining an extensive review of academic literature with interviews and surveys conducted among scholars and government officials. This methodology aims to identify and analyze conceptual ambiguities that obstruct a deeper understanding of foreign policy. The analysis unfolds in three stages: first, identifying conceptual gaps in the existing literature; second, examining stakeholder perspectives through interviews and surveys; and third, synthesizing the findings to propose a more refined framework for understanding foreign policy. The study concludes by highlighting the need for a clearer and more comprehensive conceptualization of foreign policy—one that effectively distinguishes it from international politics and enhances its practical implementation.