Abstract
In 2012, Medellín was named “City of the Year” by the Urban Land Institute and became a universal model for a country’s comeback from extreme violence. However, twenty years earlier at the height of the drug cartel’s power, Medellín, the hub of the cocaine industry, was reported the most dangerous city in the world. The author posits the economic, political, social and physical effects of the cartels are and were profoundly felt by both marginalized and mainstream citizens who came into contact with the consequences of the cartel’s actions on a daily basis. However, Medellín is altering its contemporary reputation to one of innovation, creativity, and equity. This paper examines the effects of the drug cartels and international cocaine trade on the Colombian Republic with a focus on Medellín, the nucleus of the industry. It will also address what has been done in Medellín’s era of reconstruction to recover from a dark history and create a space free of violence, fear, and uncertainty.