Organized Violence after Civil War: The Geography of Recruitment in Latin America (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)

Nearly half of all countries emerging from civil conflict relapse into war within a few years of signing a peace agreement. The postwar trajectories of armed groups vary from organizational cohesion to dissolution, demilitarization to remilitarization. In Organized Violence after Civil War, Daly analyzes evidence from thirty-seven militia groups in Colombia, demonstrating that the primary driving force behind these changes is the variation in recruitment patterns within, and between, the warring groups. She documents the transition from war to peace through interviews with militia commanders, combatants and victims. Using rich ex-combatant survey data and geo-coded information on violence over fifty years of war, Daly explains the dynamics inside armed organizations and the strategic interactions among them. She also shows how the theory may be used beyond Colombia, both within the region of Latin America and across the rest of the world. Will appeal to a broad range of scholars including political scientists specializing in international relations and comparative politics Closely engages with comprehensive comparative case studies that involve both qualitative and quantitative analysis of primary data collected in the field Widely accessible to graduates, scholars and undergraduates "Nearly half of all countries emerging from conflict relapse into war within a few years of signing a peace agreement. The post-war trajectories of armed groups vary from demilitarization to remilitarisation. In Organized Violence after Civil War, Daly analyzes evidence from 37 militia groups in Colombia, demonstrating that the primary driving force behind these changes is the variation in recruitment patterns within, and between, the warring groups after peace accords. She documents the transition from war to peace in interviews with militia commanders, combatants and victims. Using rich ex-combatant survey data and geo-coded information on violence over forty years of war, Daly explains the dynamics inside armed organizations and the strategic interactions between them. She also shows how these theories can be used beyond Colombia, both within the region of Latin America and in the rest of the world"-- Provided by publisher 1. Introduction: A farewell to arms? 2. Theory of the postwar trajectories of armed organizations 3. Violence and peace in Colombia 4. Geography of recruitment and postwar organizational capacity 5. Strategic interactions between armed groups and remilitarization 6. The path to demilitarization : configuration of local militias in Antioquia 7. Remilitarization, strong and weak : local and non-local militias in Catatumbo and Urabá/Córdoba 8. Beyond Colombia : transitions from war to peace in comparative perspective Conclusion Appendix. 1. Introduction - a farewell to arms? 2. Theory of the postwar trajectories of armed organizations 3. Violence and peace in Colombia 4. Geography of recruitment and postwar organizational capacity 5. Strategic interactions between armed groups and remilitarization 6. The path to demilitarization: configuration of local militias in Antioquia 7. Remilitarization, strong and weak: local and non-local militias in Catatumbo and Urabá/Córdoba 8. Beyond Colombia: transitions from war to peace in comparative perspective 9. Conclusion. In Organized Violence after Civil War, Daly analyzes evidence from militia groups in Colombia, demonstrating the driving forces behind the post-war trajectory of armed groups. Using rich ex-combatant survey data and geo-coded information on violence the author explains the dynamics inside armed organizations and the strategic interactions between them.