The vestiges of Spanish Colonialism. The techniques of sovereign massacres in Colombia

Summary

The webinar features Edwin Medina, a lawyer and human rights defender, discussing his research on the vestiges of Spanish colonialism and techniques of sovereign massacres in Colombia. Medina explores the influence of the Inquisition on contemporary violence, the concept of sovereignty, and the judicial biopolitical mechanics behind paramilitary actions. His analysis delves into the territorial, biopolitical, and judicial aspects of these massacres, aiming to contribute to historical memory and understanding of global South perspectives.

Takeaways

• 📚 The webinar focuses on the intersection of religion, society, and gender issues in the context of Colombia's history.
• 👨‍💼 Edwin Medina, a human rights lawyer and consultant for indigenous peoples, is the guest speaker with expertise in human rights and democratization.
• 🎓 Medina holds a Master's from Complutense University of Madrid and a PhD from the University of Quilla, and is a professor at the INIU Montería law program.
• 🔍 The central hypothesis discusses the influence of Spanish colonialism and the Inquisition on the paramilitaries' conduct of massacres in the 1990s in Colombia.
• 🏠 The project aims to contribute to historical memory by examining the causes and procedures leading to thousands of victims in Colombia.
• 🌐 The presentation is part of a larger project on 'exceptionality' in the Global South, aiming to offer new perspectives in social sciences.
• ⚖️ The concept of 'sovereign massacre' is introduced, relating to the brutal exercise of power by paramilitary groups in territorial control.
• 🤝 The project establishes a theoretical dialogue with the works of Schmitt and Agamben, particularly focusing on sovereignty, law, and exception.
• 📈 The research identifies 15 cases of 'sovereign massacres' and analyzes their characteristics, including territorial domain, biopolitical techniques, and judicial processes.
• 🎨 The transformation of territory through massacres is discussed, highlighting changes in the ideal, symbolic, and physical aspects of the land.
• 👥 The role of women's bodies in these massacres is emphasized, as they are often the target of inhuman treatment and represent a crucial aspect of the paramilitaries' strategy.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Edwin Medina's presentation at the webinar?

The main topic of Edwin Medina's presentation is the vestiges of Spanish colonialism and the techniques of sovereign massacres in Colombia.

What was Edwin Medina's role in Colombia between 2009 and 2013?

Edwin Medina worked as a lawyer defending the human rights of the victims of State crimes in Colombia between 2009 and 2013.

What are the two key areas that the main issue of the webinar focuses on?

The main issue of the webinar focuses on the relationship between religions and society, and gender questions.

What are the educational backgrounds of Edwin Medina?

Edwin Medina has a master's degree in human rights and democratization from Exat University, Carlos III of Madrid, and a PhD in human rights in contemporary societies from the University of Qura.

How does Edwin Medina define 'Sovereign Massacre'?

Edwin Medina defines 'Sovereign Massacre' as a situation where, due to territorial control and implementation of legal procedures, paramilitary groups carry out brutal actions against the population, demonstrating their power and sovereignty.

What is the central hypothesis of Edwin Medina's research?

The central hypothesis of Edwin Medina's research is that the judicial and biopolitical mechanics of the Inquisition have influenced the configuration of massacres conducted by paramilitaries in Colombia during the 90s.

What is the significance of the term 'Global South' in the context of this presentation?

The term 'Global South' is significant in the context of this presentation as it allows for a diversity of new perspectives in social science and is part of a larger project examining exceptionality in the global South.

How does Edwin Medina link the concept of sovereignty to paramilitary actions in Colombia?

Edwin Medina links the concept of sovereignty to paramilitary actions by arguing that sovereignty depends on the actor's ability to carry out their actions, which in the case of paramilitaries, is a display of brutal power against the population.

What are the three characteristics of Sovereign Massacre as identified by Edwin Medina?

The three characteristics of Sovereign Massacre identified by Edwin Medina are: 1) territorial domain of days or weeks in certain Colombian towns, 2) biopolitical techniques carried out by paramilitary during the massacre, and 3) the imposition of a judicial process by the paramilitaries.

How does the notion of 'sovereignty' change in the context of the 'Sovereign Massacre'?

In the context of 'Sovereign Massacre', the notion of 'sovereignty' changes from being associated with the state or government to being associated with the brutal power exercised by paramilitary groups, which is a primitive form of power.

What is the role of women's bodies in the context of Sovereign Massacre according to Edwin Medina?

According to Edwin Medina, women's bodies play a crucial role in the context of Sovereign Massacre as they are often the targets of inhuman treatment, rape, and mutilation, symbolizing the imposition of new normativity and the erasure of the symbolic community.

How does Edwin Medina connect the historical practice of the Spanish Inquisition to modern-day paramilitary massacres?

Edwin Medina connects the historical practice of the Spanish Inquisition to modern-day paramilitary massacres by comparing the judicial process of the Inquisition, which includes investigation, denunciation, and confession, to the strategies deployed by paramilitaries to legitimize their actions.