Waving the Green Flag for Peace. Public Spaces as Peacebuilding Places in Colombian Cities

Abstract

“Space” traditionally relates to physical location, and “place” to a sociocultural perception of space, while “territory” usually refers to the governance context of space, with policy implications. However, these terms have increasingly become intertwined when it comes to the relationships between socio-cultural values, social cohesion and governance. Public spaces, especially urban green spaces, are outstanding contributors to social cohesion in any society. Nonetheless, their potential in postconflict societies has been largely overlooked so far. Through a literature review and through the observation of the use of green spaces in different societies in their post-conflict periods, this article aims to assess the potential for these components of the urban territory to foster peace and sustainability. This requires appropriate policies, with special relevance to the new socio-political context in Colombia following the implementation of the Peace agreements.

Keywords: Colombia; Post-conflict; Public Urban Green Spaces; Social Cohesion