ABSTRACT
Colombian political life has been dominated by the Liberal and Conservative parties since the middle of the nineteenth century. The Liberal and Conservative parties have been the central actors in Colombian politics, but the party system has not always closely resembled a classic two-party model. The Conservative party and the Liberal party both grew out of the political controversies of mid-nineteenth century Colombia. The growing segment of uncommitted urban voters represents an important new electoral element that urbanization will increase and that new political forces one day could mobilize. The Colombian military is less powerful than most other Latin American armed forces, but it plays an important political role. The Conservatives continue to advocate church doctrine on traditional church/state matters against the more secular Liberals, but such controversies no longer figure prominently in Colombian politics. Colombian elections are held in a climate of free expression and are conducted without notable irregularities.
