This article presents an historiographical evaluation of the most important studies concerning "la violencia" in Colombia during the past 15 years. The author analyzes the scholarship on the violence, first, through general studies of Colombia socio-economic conditions and political parties during the 1940s. Nest, LeGrand discusses the most important regional studies which analyze the relationship between local, regional and national power. Shee debates the various theses of the violence and classifies these studies according to the pre-existing perspectives concerning the phenomenon of the violence. Additionally, the article introduces new questions and topics which the author deems important for future research. The article concludes with an "appendix" written by Herbert Braun resulting in a lively debate between the author of The asassination of Gaitán (Mataron a Gaitán) and LeGrand.