ABSTRACT
One key characteristic of the Colombian political regime is the two-party system. The dynamic of deeply ingrained two-party competition created a major incentive for the electoral mobilization of workers, thus disposing the countries toward more mobilization incorporation periods. Economically Colombia has never been a liberal-capitalist state; rather, there have been all kinds of formal and informal connections between economic interest groups and the government. Colombia was late in adopting import-substitution industrialization and turned away from it first through Law 444 of 1967 and later through the opening up of the economy by the Barco and Gaviria governments. Moreover, populist movements have never been important in Colombia simply because the lower classes have always been split between the two traditional parties. Manufacturing growth will be a key goal, because that development will employ more people and Colombian products will have more value added.
