Publication

This paper examines Colombia's disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) program that started in 2003. This program aims to permanently end the threat of violence from the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). The paper offers a brief history of the AUC and examines aspects of Colombia's reintegration process from the standpoint of the government, the demobilized combatants and the communities at large, offering general lessons for Colombia and future DDR initiatives elsewhere. The author finds that after initial successes, many ex-combatants were becoming disillusioned with the shortcomings of the DDR program's provisions for reintegration and returned to structures of violence and crime.