Colombia’s old agrarian reforms challenge a new rural reform to finally benefit the rural poor

Using historical and political economy frameworks, this research argues that after three agrarian reforms, Colombia continues to have a debt with its rural poor. Findings suggested that this debt is fueled by internal policy elements as well as external factors vis-a-vis their link to the reform. Therefore, these elements are (re)defined as challenges to be faced in the implementation of a new land reform. Finally, this research unpacks the new agrarian reform through these challenges, and propose a shift in the hierarchy to approach the reform. Overall, this research’s results aim towards a new reform that both benefits the rural poor and serves as a mechanism to reduce inequality in Colombian rural areas.