Former Colombian president Belisario Betancur examines the process of negotiating with groups that use violence to achieve their political objectives, drawing on his own experience in talks with the FARC in Colombia.In an open political society, all members of the state engage in a dialogue,and Betancur discusses the tactics used to delegitimize violence during his government’s negotiations with rebel groups. He argues that violence impede development and underdevelopment feeds violence; this cycle must be broken in order to ensure lasting peace.