Grassroots Peacebuilding in Colombia: Layers of Peacebuilding and Their Intersections

Abstract

This thesis discusses the role of grassroots organizations in peacebuilding at multiple levels of society. It also examines the challenges and potential of elite-level peacebuilding, looking specifically at the case of Colombia since the 2016 accord. The thesis uses theories of Conflict Transformation and Multi-Level Peacebuilding to argue that local-level peacebuilding is essential for the sustainability of a peace accord, and that a culture of peace can only be built through the work of organizations that are rooted in community life. Through interviews with peacebuilding organizations in Colombia and the analysis of websites and publications of community peacebuilding organizations, this thesis analyzes discourses of peace. Community-based discourses are then compared to those of the state. The comparison offers insights into a way forward for sustainable peacebuilding by highlighting the unique contributions that community-based organizations offer, such as a focus on the individual psycho-social level.