The ‘vulnerability paradox’: how institutional legacies shaped Colombia's response to Venezuelan displacement

Abstract

Colombia's response to Venezuelan displacement-driven by economic collapse, political instability, and humanitarian need-through the Temporary Protection Status programme has been praised internationally for its inclusive approach and positive effects on both migrants and host countries. This research argues that the adoption of a crisis lens is the key to understanding how such an effective response was possible. Based on 40 semi-structured interviews with policymakers and experts, as well as a review of literature on internal forced displacement policy, this article highlights how Colombia leveraged institutional legacies from its internal conflict and displacement crises to shape its response. The findings identify five capacities that were transferred across crises: management of international aid; coordination among institutions; population registration; integration of external models; and understanding of the nature of the border. The article contributes to the literature on large-scale displacement by emphasising the importance of institutional memory in shaping responses and suggests the presence of a 'vulnerability paradox': how countries with histories of adversity can build resilience and crisis management capacities.