Objective/Context:

The following article explores State formation in the frontier towns of Caquetá in the second half of the 19th century. It is argued that, rather than being an abandoned or isolated space, a particular form of government developed in this region that allowed it to engage with the Colombian state. This was vital both for the maintenance of international borders and for the very development of the extractive economies.

Originality:

The process of state formation in the Amazon is explored through the study of delegative forms of power -characterized by non-state actors exercising state functions- developed throughout the 19th century, which stands in contrast to interpretations centred on the rubber economy as the main factor in the process of incorporating Amazonian frontiers.

Methodology:

The research is based on the study of primary sources, relying on civil archives and the correspondence of the Capuchin mission.

Conclusions:

In rainforest and frontier spaces, the State operated under delegative forms of power, which led to unconventional actors appropriating its message of control and domination. This allowed Colombia to maintain its territorial claims, despite its precarious investment and institutional presence.

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