Paramilitary Conflict in Colombia: A Case Study of Economic Causes of Conflict Recidivism

Following the peace accord on 26 September 2016 between the Colombian government and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), significant structural issues persisted in Colombia, such as state fragility, land distribution challenges, and rural impoverishment, all of which jeopardized sustain...

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Main Authors: William Orlando Prieto Bustos, Johanna Manrique-Hernandez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-02-01
Series:Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/2/112
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author William Orlando Prieto Bustos
Johanna Manrique-Hernandez
author_facet William Orlando Prieto Bustos
Johanna Manrique-Hernandez
author_sort William Orlando Prieto Bustos
collection DOAJ
description Following the peace accord on 26 September 2016 between the Colombian government and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), significant structural issues persisted in Colombia, such as state fragility, land distribution challenges, and rural impoverishment, all of which jeopardized sustainable peace. Previous disarmament events indicated potential shifts in violence and recidivism rates among ex-combatants. This paper aims to determine the likelihood that, in the post-conflict era with FARC, these ex-combatants would rearm themselves into new criminal factions. Employing a methodology by Paul Collier, the study utilized logit, probit, and panel data models with both fixed and random effects to evaluate the recidivism risk at the municipal level. A 1% increase in per capita municipal income decreased conflict probability due to the increased opportunity cost of disrupting economic endeavors. Conversely, 1% increases in potential conflict benefits from tax revenue and natural resource proceeds raised the probability of conflict by 40% and 17%, respectively. Key results indicate that economic advancement, as measured by per capita income, reduced the duration of paramilitary presence, whereas revenue from taxes and natural resources extended it at the municipal level in Colombia.
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spelling doaj.art-903b21b5f12b417f821427f9ff03b0c32024-02-23T15:34:38ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602024-02-0113211210.3390/socsci13020112Paramilitary Conflict in Colombia: A Case Study of Economic Causes of Conflict RecidivismWilliam Orlando Prieto Bustos0Johanna Manrique-Hernandez1Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Catholic University of Colombia, Street 47 No. 13-54, Building C, Bogota 110211, ColombiaCollege of Graduate Studies, University of British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, CanadaFollowing the peace accord on 26 September 2016 between the Colombian government and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), significant structural issues persisted in Colombia, such as state fragility, land distribution challenges, and rural impoverishment, all of which jeopardized sustainable peace. Previous disarmament events indicated potential shifts in violence and recidivism rates among ex-combatants. This paper aims to determine the likelihood that, in the post-conflict era with FARC, these ex-combatants would rearm themselves into new criminal factions. Employing a methodology by Paul Collier, the study utilized logit, probit, and panel data models with both fixed and random effects to evaluate the recidivism risk at the municipal level. A 1% increase in per capita municipal income decreased conflict probability due to the increased opportunity cost of disrupting economic endeavors. Conversely, 1% increases in potential conflict benefits from tax revenue and natural resource proceeds raised the probability of conflict by 40% and 17%, respectively. Key results indicate that economic advancement, as measured by per capita income, reduced the duration of paramilitary presence, whereas revenue from taxes and natural resources extended it at the municipal level in Colombia.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/2/112post-conflictcriminal gangspeace negotiationsurban and rural economy
spellingShingle William Orlando Prieto Bustos
Johanna Manrique-Hernandez
Paramilitary Conflict in Colombia: A Case Study of Economic Causes of Conflict Recidivism
Social Sciences
post-conflict
criminal gangs
peace negotiations
urban and rural economy
title Paramilitary Conflict in Colombia: A Case Study of Economic Causes of Conflict Recidivism
title_full Paramilitary Conflict in Colombia: A Case Study of Economic Causes of Conflict Recidivism
title_fullStr Paramilitary Conflict in Colombia: A Case Study of Economic Causes of Conflict Recidivism
title_full_unstemmed Paramilitary Conflict in Colombia: A Case Study of Economic Causes of Conflict Recidivism
title_short Paramilitary Conflict in Colombia: A Case Study of Economic Causes of Conflict Recidivism
title_sort paramilitary conflict in colombia a case study of economic causes of conflict recidivism
topic post-conflict
criminal gangs
peace negotiations
urban and rural economy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/2/112
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