Colombia’s Program to Substitute Crops Used for Illegal Purposes: Its Impact on Security and Development

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between security and development in peacebuilding policies in post-accord Colombia. It focuses particularly on Colombia’s efforts to substitute crops used for illegal purposes with alternative forms of sustainable livelihood in order to curb what is perceived as one of the biggest threats to both security and development in the country. It argues that continued violence creates considerable obstacles for local peacebuilding actors trying to pursue security and development simultaneously. It significantly counteracts and undermines the successful outcomes of peacebuilding, turning security and development programmes against each other and blocking each other’s success.