Colombia is navigating a complex phase characterized by the loss of credibility and weakening of its institutions. A recent analysis attributes this to the erosion of core societal values such as solidarity, equity, and justice. It emphasizes the urgent need for a moral transformation to bolster the institutional framework.
It is not economic models or geographic location that make a nation developed, but solid and efficient institutions, as explained by professors Robinson and Acemoglu in their book Why Nations Fail. In Colombia, these institutions are undermined by the loss of essential societal values, such as solidarity, equity, truth, respect, and justice, which are vital for healthy coexistence and the protection of citizens' rights.
The justice system in the country limps in the face of daily corruption processes, often co-opted by political power. It becomes a tool for the personal interests of certain castes, who use money and intimidation to bend it, even in evident cases of embezzlement from public funds. Narcotrafficking proliferates, with a permissive society toward the laundering of illicit money through front companies and state contracts. The corrupting influence of narcotrafficking and smuggling has permeated all institutions, without a decisive response.
While there are numerous challenges highlighting this institutional weakness—the cornerstone of democracy—a genuine moral transformation is needed. This would restore the value of institutions, ensuring justice and rights while fulfilling duties and respecting others'. Only then can necessary reforms advance and a just path be charted to overcome the multiple crises currently faced.