Community Counts: The Social Reintegration of Ex-Combatants in Colombia
38 Pages Posted: 30 Aug 2012 Last revised: 21 Sep 2016
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Community Counts: The Social Reintegration of Ex-Combatants in Colombia
Community Counts: The Social Reintegration of Ex-Combatants in Colombia
Date Written: June 21, 2013
Abstract
What explains the social reintegration of ex-combatants from armed conflicts? Community- level programs to reintegrate ex-combatants into society are based on the theory that the participation of ex-combatants in their communities can promote reconciliation and minimize recidivism to illegal activities. We evaluate community and security-related opportunities for and constraints on social reintegration using a survey of ex-combatants from Colombia. We find ex-combatants in more participatory communities tend to have an easier time with social reintegration and feel less of a need to organize among themselves. These findings suggest that to help ex-combatants, reintegration processes should also work to improve the social vibrancy of receptor communities.
Keywords: community, reintegration, DDR, social capital, Colombia, civil war
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