Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Hicks, Barbara

Area of Concentration

International and Area Studies and Political Science

Abstract

After half a century of armed conflict, Colombia faces a politicized post-conflict transition in which it struggles to reintegrate the FARC’s ex-combatants. As a response to this premature context for traditional disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration, the Government of Colombia is utilizing Interim Stabilization measures to reintegrate the FARC collectively in temporary sites known as Territorial Spaces for Training and Reincorporation [ETCR]. Nonetheless, challenges in implementing the ETCR are causing FARC ex-combatants to abandon the reintegration process, raising concerns ex-combatants may fall into recidivism. A previous attempt at utilizing Interim Stabilization in Colombia struggled to deter many paramilitary excombatants from rejoining their wartime criminal networks. Challenges in implementing the FARC’s reintegration under Interim Stabilization increase the risk of repeating the recidivism trend seen in the paramilitary reintegration process. To understand the challenges in implementing Interim Stabilization with the FARC, this study identified why ex-combatants are abandoning the ETCR: poor living conditions, ex-combatants’ physical insecurity, and the lack of land access for productive economic projects. These challenges provide lessons for implementing Interim Stabilization measures in Colombia and in other politicized post-conflict environments.

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