Oral history interview with Bernard W. Aronson 2021
Abstract
Bernard Aronson discusses his role in the negotiations between the Colombian government under the leadership of President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which Aronson supported as U.S. special envoy to the Colombian peace process following his appointment by President Obama in February 2015. Aronson, who previously served as assistant secretary of state fo r inter-American affairs from 1989 to 1993, situates the Obama administration's policy toward Latin America within the history of American post-Cold War foreign policy toward the region, and frames the conditions under which a successful peace process became possible. Aronson describes his role as an informal mediator during the negotiations, and outlines the process' major issues, which included the terms of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR), the ensuring of post-agreement security, and steps to promote transitional justice. Also discussed are the relationship between the peace process and the Obama administration's normalization of diplomatic relations with Cuba, bi-partisan support in the U.S. Congress for the peace process, the impact of the 2016 Colombian peace agreement referendum, and the role of the United States in the implementation of the agreement
Geopolitics--Latin America; Presidents--United States; United States Latin America; Aronson, Bernard; Obama, Barack; Santos, Juan Manuel; Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
47 pages
Note (Biographical)
Bernard Aronson served as special envoy to the Colombian peace process, a position to which he was appointed in February 2015 following a lengthy career in public service. From 1989 through 1993, he was U.S. assistant secretary of state for inter-Amer ican affairs under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award, the State Department's highest honor, by Secretary Warren Christopher for that service. In 1981, he became the director of policy of the Democratic National Committee, and he also served on the White House staff during President Carter's administration. He is co-founder and managing partner of ACON Investments, established in 1996
Note
Interviewed by Evan D. McCormick on January 27, 2021. This interview is part of Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Bernard W. Aronson, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022