Luis Van Isschot Summary

• Luis Van Isschot explores human rights activism in Colombia’s oil capital, Barrancabermeja
• Explores several aspects o Development of Barrancabermeja as a city o Nationalization of the oil industry in Colombia o Emergence of social movements in response to several conflicts
 The shifts of these movements
• Meeting the demands of the public o Human rights activism in response to violence
Thesis
- Luis Van Isschot approaches the topic of human rights activism in Colombia, by exploring the origins of human rights activism, emphasizing how these social and political organizations and movements are intertwined, and their formation can truly be understood when looking at it from the viewpoint of the individuals who were at the frontlines
Summary
- Emphasizes the
- Aim of the book o To better understand the social origins of human rights movements, focusing on the outcomes of several armed conflicts which occurred throughout the late 20th century Latin America
- Some may question, well what do oil strikes have anything to do with evolution of human rights o Learn through his view how important these oil strikes were o How the shift from oil strikes to responses to violence happened
 How human rights activism changed over time in
• At first it was mainly oil workers demanding equality in the first half, gradually this changes to the public protesting against violence o Isschot emphasizes the important views of human rights defenders who took part in these social activism
 Uses many interviews with these individuals
 Refers back to various primary sources
Critique
- Strengths o Enhances understanding of the topic of human rights in Colombia o States “diverse social bases of human rights movements are not reflected in the reports that circulate among international organizations, it is evident when looking at the full range and sophistication of activities” o Effectively demonstrates the origins human rights activism in Colombia through a new