Ex-combatants and violence in Colombia: are yesterday’s villains today’s principal threat?

Abstract

Ex-combatants are generally portrayed as a security threat. I present evidence that puts the ex-combatant threat perception in perspective for the case of Colombia. In-depth interviews and surveys show that ex-combatants are not destined for a life of violence, as they become less interested in risky activities over time. Also, even though former mid-ranked commanders have led criminal follower organisations of demobilised paramilitary groups, rank-and-file ex-combatants have been replaced with a new generation of recruits. According to crime statistics, participation of ex-combatants in violence is too small to unsettle overall criminal dynamics. Still, ex-combatants continue to receive a lot of attention in post-demobilisation settings, perhaps inhibiting more targeted attention for other populations with high damage potential and broader structural policies.