ABSTRACT
The nation of Colombia was engaged in a destructive and deeply entrenched civil war for over half a century. This conflict between the Colombian state and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) officially ended in December of 2016 when the peace accords—negotiated over four years between the FARC and the Colombian government—were finally ratified by the Colombian Congress. “Post-conflict Colombia” has provided hope for many Colombian citizens that the endemic conflict and violence of the twentieth century may be finally resolved. Although the accords themselves address the underlying sources of conflict in the country, peace and reconciliation will have to be achieved at the local level in order for this new opportunity to be realized. This chapter examines peace-building work in three distinct communities which have been impacted by the Colombian civil war. It argues that these communities provide models for effective “peace from below” initiatives that could be replicated elsewhere.
