Social reintegration of ex-combatants in two peace communities in Colombia

Abstract

This article analyses and compares the social reintegration of ex-combatants in two peace communities in Colombia, the “Peasant Worker Association of the Carare River” (Santander) and Samaniego (Nariño). Based primarily on interviews with ex-combatants and villagers, we examined how both communities, each in its own way and to varying degrees, provided security guarantees to ex-combatants, helped to reduce the stigmatization of ex-combatants, offered them opportunities for participation and accompanied them in their reintegration. We argued that the characteristics of both as peace communities, especially their high social capital, facilitated the social reintegration of ex-combatants. However, the first peace community, being more consolidated, had better results.