From Vicious to Virtuous Cycles: A Conceptual Framework on (De-)Marginalisation and Citizen Security in Colombia

Abstract

Since the 2016 Havana Peace Accord (HPA), for many Colombians security has hardly improved. This article argues that this is largely due to socially rooted marginalisation that constrains citizen participation and contributes to entrenched insecurity in the country, especially its border regions. We show how post-HPA community-level responses to insecurity, including constructive engagement with the state, can enhance security and kick-start processes of de-marginalisation. Drawing on original data from interviews in Cesar Department and a series of cross-stakeholder fora in 2019, we demonstrate the utility of the citizen security lens when examining processes of marginalisation, de-marginalisation, and their impact on perceptions of (in)security of marginalised communities.