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This essay analyzes the extent to which the Colombian centralization process, from 1886 to 1930, fulfilled Max Weber's criteria for successful State building: legitimate monopoly of force, territorial consolidation, and construction of a rational bureaucratic order. In the first part of the period, there were several civil wars, and religious and political strife that only ceased after the Thousand Days War (1899- 1902). The economy stagnated and had few links with the global market. Between 1905 and 1930 more tolerant governments were committed to the country's economic development and it accelerated. However, the balance is poor: the monopoly of force was late and incomplete, the State remained weak due to low taxation and the oligarchic political order continued. Bureaucratic development was incomplete, although it extended into areas of economic policy driven by the central Government. The cities prospered and became poles of power with which the political center had to negotiate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]