Protesting for Protection: The Effects of Social Movements Against Civil War Violence in Colombia

• In Event: Repertoires of Colective Action: Memory, Identity, Art and Clientelism

Abstract

Can peaceful social protests against repression by armed actors in civil wars work to protect civilians from violence? Since states are weak in many conflict settings and humanitarian interventions are either slow or rare, civilians are often left to their own devices to protect their communities. One strategy that various communities around the world have attempted is mass protest against belligerents. However, it is not obvious whether protests for protection achieve their aims. While armed actors may suffer greater reputational effects if they transgress against civilians in the face of mass protests, conventional theories of violence largely view civilians as powerless and, at worst, suggest that protests may also incite additional retaliatory violence. To adjudicate among these distinct narratives, we conduct statistical analyses of protests and violence across Colombian municipalities from 1990-2010. We also model and take into account when and where anti-violence protests are likely to occur since protests may in part be mobilized as responses to high levels of repression. The results provide insights about civilians’ abilities to act collectively to shape their own environments and preserve their autonomy in the face of armed conflict.

Author

• Oliver Kaplan, University of Denver