This paper analyses the basic determinants of the quality of democracy in Colombia. In order to achieve this purpose, it indicates and differentiates the characteristics of the national political dynamics and also discusses the underlying explanatory challenges. This is done through an analytical contrast of the elements of economic and political determinism that causes the aggravation of its crisis. It also develops a gradual follow up of the different degrees of the process of democratic deterioration. Finally, from the application of a conventional typo- logy of indicators of the quality of democracy and after reiterating the logic of the essays' concatenation, it underlines the uniqueness of the Colombian case (deviant) instead of reaching an ultimate conclusion.