Collective Action and Civilian Agency in Conflict: Peasant Strategies for Peacebuilding in Rural Colombia

Abstract

This dissertation uses a mixed-methods approach to examine how peasant associations and agricultural cooperatives contribute to violence prevention and peacebuilding in Colombia's conflict-affected rural areas. Grounded in the agrarian question, it combines municipal-level data analysis with testimonies and a regional case study to explore how collective action and civilian agency shape conflict dynamics and foster local resilience. The findings highlight the role of rural organizations not only in resisting armed actors, but in constructing alternative economic that support long-term peace from below.