The entanglement of the protracted conflict on the colombia-venezuela borders: An analysis of the violence and the actors in the post-peace agreement context

Abstract

Objective/Context: Based on a case study of the Department of Norte de Santander, Colombia, this article analyzes the changes in the dynamics of violence and the composition of the armed non-State actors on the Colombian-Venezuelan borders after the signing of the peace agreement between the Colombian State and the FARC guerrilla. It focuses on the dynamics of the protracted conflict in Colombia, its impact on the social orders of this territory and the particular implications of the 'border effect' in terms of security. Methodology: This empirical study is based on information gathered from interviews and non-participatory observations, complemented by a review of official reports, newspaper articles and the secondary literature. Conclusion: The current situation of violence and insecurity is the result of the overlapping of three types of conflict which interact and mutually influence each other and have been caused by the civil war in Colombia, the activities of criminal gangs and the humanitarian crisis arising from the mass migration of Venezuelans to Colombia. Against this backdrop, there has been a strengthening of a non-State order, an increasing fragmentation of the armed non-state actors and an internecine warfare between criminal gangs. Originality: While a large body of information about the violent situation on the Colombian-Venezuelan border has emerged in recent years, there have been few academic studies of the subject so far. This article aims to make a contribution to this field of study, by presenting: A) a conceptual framework that draws on studies of the armed conflicts, social orders and security of borderlands in other regions, and b) an analysis, based on primary sources, of the phenomenon and the context.