海角大神

If adversity is a great teacher, Colombia has been a great student.

A quarter century ago, the Latin American nation was nearly a failed state, overrun by drug lords. Even today, after the drug cartels have been largely suppressed, a war with leftist guerrillas has become the longest armed conflict in the world 鈥� lasting more than a half century. More than 220,000 people have been killed and more than a tenth of the population remains displaced.

Such troubles, which include high corruption and a big gap between rich and poor, might have left an entire people feeling down. Not so in Colombia.

In 2012, the United Nations ranked it third on a 鈥渉appiness鈥� index. A Gallup poll last year put Colombia in the top 10 of countries in which people like what they do each day and have supportive relationships. And Forbes magazine cites it as one of 鈥�10 coolest places to visit in 2015.鈥�

Yet coolness, love, and happiness might not be enough to explain Colombia鈥檚 recent successes and reform efforts. A 2014 survey by the Pew Research Center ranks it the highest country on a few key character traits. Colombians stand out in believing that 鈥済etting ahead鈥� takes a combination of hard work and education.

Even more telling is that Colombians rank very high compared to other emerging economies in not believing that 鈥渟uccess is determined by outside forces.鈥�

These traits of resilience may help explain why Mark Schneider of the International Crisis Group predicted last week that 鈥渢he only good news鈥� on the world state in 2015 may be a peace agreement in Colombia鈥檚 long war.

Talks between President Juan Manuel Santos and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces, known as FARC, began in 2012. The two sides have reached a couple key agreements. But the hardest parts 鈥� how to reintegrate militias and provide reparations to some 6 million victims 鈥� are not yet resolved. Even after an agreement, it might take years to reduce the poverty and injustices that first drove the rebellion.

Still, much of Colombia, especially the former drug-addled city of Medell铆n, is thriving despite the war. Instead of being home to drug barons like Pablo Escobar, Medell铆n now sports impressive infrastructure, such as a long escalator and cable cars up hillside slums to help connect the poor and rich. The city鈥檚 culture of entrepreneurship is creating a Silicon Valley of Latin America.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a saying that adversity helps character,鈥� said President Santos in a recent forum. 鈥淲ell, I think adversity has helped Medell铆n to have the character to change. They have been able to use that adversity to their advantage and now they鈥檙e flourishing. We still have problems, of course. But Medell铆n鈥檚 an example of how you can change.鈥�

Colombia has long stood out in Latin America. It was the region鈥檚 first democracy. Bogot谩 was once the 鈥淎thens of South America.鈥� Now it has the strongest and fastest-growing economy, ranking in size behind Brazil and Mexico. With aid from the United States, it has curbed much of its major drug trafficking.

It still needs land reform and a better human rights record to uplift its most marginalized people. During his reelection campaign last year, Santos promised to move his country from a 鈥渃ulture of fear鈥� toward a 鈥渃ulture of fair play, of decency, of respect towards institutions.鈥�

A nation that has been at war for 50 years, he says, has to start early to heal the wounds of war. The victims of the conflict have a seat at the peace talks, as Santos has insisted, because they are more willing to forgive and more willing to be generous.

As Shakespeare said, 鈥淪weet are the uses of adversity.鈥� And sweet indeed is Colombia鈥檚 ability to bounce back from its woes.