Citizen participation in the post-conflict era: scope and challenges of territorial democratization in colombia

Abstract

This article analyzes the nature of the citizen participation mechanisms created by the Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace, signed between the National Government and the FARC-EP, their possible contributions to legitimizing the exercise of political power at the local level, and the challenges that should be faced in the post-conflict era. In the first part, the main characteristics of the mechanisms, related to their purposes, functions, and structure are analyzed. In the second part, the normative and practical importance of the mechanisms to achieve the basic objectives of the Peace Agreement was evaluated. Finally, in the third part, the main challenges that are currently being faced by the successful implementation of the mechanisms in the regions affected by the armed conflict, drug trafficking, and institutional weakness are described.