Neither the rise and fall of Colombian…

Neither the rise and fall of Colombian federalism nor the frequent civil warfare has much impact on social structures.

A federal system does provide more employment for politicians and officeholders than a strictly centralized one, thus continuing an expansion of opportunities of public service that had begun with independence.

Yet it is hard to penetrate the upper strata without some formal education, which the vast majority still does not receive.

In some Latin American countries (and to some extent during the independence struggle in Colombia), military prowess might be enough to propel an able individual of humble origin to positions of power, although not necessarily social esteem; but the weakness of the military institution makes this a less promising path of advancement in Colombia.

Once the veterans of independence have died or retired, the generals of the civil wars tend to be lawyers or landowners who dabble in fighting part-time.