Objective:

This study seeks to understand how the Colombian newspaper El Campesino promoted an idea of peasantry useful to the regime known as Frente Nacional in 1961.

Methodology:

Inspired by functional grammar, the article analyzes the newspaper's grammar structures to comprehend its political influence.

Originality:

The context ofthe birth ofpolitical and economic ideas about peasants as obstacles for development may help understand their adoption by failed development policies in Colombia. This article debates the thesis that depicts El Campesino as a critical voice against governmental policies towards peasants and agrarian reform.

Conclusions:

El Campesino created a language that supported the Frente Nacional and promoted the idea of peasants as obstacles against development. According to this language, it was necessary to control the peasant population to prevent communism. Moreover, said control had to be exerted by an alliance between the Frente Nacional, the Catholic Church, and American policies towards Latin America. Thus, El Campesino helped to stop State-led agrarian reforms and bolstered the idea of the market as the sole vehicle for development.