Esoteropolitics, Violence and Armed Conflict in Colombia -Narratives, Actors and Strategies

César Niño^1*Hugo Guerrero-Sierra²Jaime Wilches³

• ¹Universidad de La Salle Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
• ²Militar University of New Granada, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia
• ³Politécnico Grancolombiano, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia

Esoteric practices have played a significant yet often overlooked role in the trajectories of the armed conflict in Colombia. This article introduces the novel category of 'esoteropolitics' to explore the intricate relationship between war, power dynamics, and supernatural rituals, including witchcraft, religion, spiritualism, and the occult. Through an intentional sampling approach, 150 scientific, literary, and journalistic records were compiled and analyzed. These records were coded to examine macroscopic and microscopic scenarios that intersect objective and subjective narratives and interests. The analysis reveals that esoteropolitics not only coexisted with the Colombian conflict but also emerged as a significant actor, albeit one systematically marginalized by political elites and illegal armed groups. These esoteric narratives influenced war strategies and tactics, the conduct of hostilities, and the configuration of legitimacies and privileges in the control of territories and communities. This research contributes to the broader literature on the role of esotericism in shaping political regimes, social systems, and armed conflict scenarios. By highlighting the interplay between esoteric practices and power dynamics, the study underscores the need to reconsider the invisible yet impactful forces that have shaped Colombia's conflict.