Estado de la investigación sobre conflicto, posconflicto, reconciliación y papel de la Sociedad Civil en Colombia.

• Main Authors: Juan José Plata, María del Rosario Guerra.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad de los Andes 2005-08-01
• Series: Revista de Estudios Sociales
• Subjects: Social research; conflict; post-conflict; reconciliation; and the role the civil society in Colombia.
• Online Access: http://res.uniandes.edu.co/view.php/461/1.php
• ISSN: 0123-885X; 1900-5180

A critical look into research carried out in Colombia on the subject of conflict, post-conflict, reconciliation, and the role the civil society plays, is the starting point for an in-depth exploration into conditions required to achieve good governance and a sustainable human development, as set out in this paper. One of the most important challenges from the vantage point of knowledge is to review the kind of questions we are posing ourselves as regards research. To establish a distinction between actions conducive to the construction of mechanisms to explain conflict, coexistence and peace. To forestall common sense explanations, or more endogenous outlooks regarding such a sensitive issue.This paper will gradually advance from some contextual elements towards our own situations and processes, coupled with a wider analysis on the basis of knowledge and discussions arising from the modern social sciences. Pretending that more of the same thing may be good and healthy is unreasonable.We should avoid going to the extremes: either selfflagellation or self-satisfaction, even less so as regards such an issue as complex as conflict and what the future has in stock for Colombian people. Many challenges lay ahead of us, both as far as knowledge is concerned and regarding the facts we face as individuals and as a nation.