Creencias Sociales sobre la paz: entre deseos imposibles, una paz imperfecta y obstáculos ciudadanos a la paz negociada en Colombia

Producto del proyecto 325C-11/18-10
The objective of this text is to understand social beliefs about peace and political negotiation in the context of the Colombian armed conflict in 304 citizens of 12 municipalities in the country, in order to determine how some of them constitute psychosocial barriers to peace building and reconciliation in Colombia. It was possible to conclude that the participants have a core of social beliefs about peace, referred to as tranquility, harmony, order, security, absence of conflict, and inner serenity, which is linked to concepts of ‘liberal peace’ insofar as the State is the one who would maintain this order and security. They deny, in turn, the possibility of dissent, contradiction, opposition, protest, and rebellion, even when this established order produces situations of injustice and exclusion, since the maintenance of this ‘peace’ would take precedence. In this context, those who oppose the State or the established power are considered enemies, and they are legitimized to be singled out, stigmatized, excluded, and eliminated. Furthermore, the doors are closed to political negotiation with armed stakeholders who contradict these social systems, since they are considered ‘criminals’ and bearers of evil, by altering tranquility, security, and harmony; thus creating psychosocial barriers to peace.