Disaffection, (Dis)Engagement and Grassroots Organising: Political Reintegration in the Colombian Peace Process

This article examines how former combatants interpret and enact “political reintegration” in response to growing disillusionment with the political party that emerged from the 2016 Peace Agreement between the FARC and the Colombian government. Beyond provisions for the social and economic reintegration of ex-combatants, the Agreement mandated the FARC's transformation into a political party with congressional representation and temporary concessions. Yet the party's influence has remained marginal, constrained by low societal acceptance, poor electoral performance, organizational challenges, and internal divisions. Meanwhile, ex-combatants in rural settlements continue to navigate everyday life amid worsening economic hardship and public insecurity. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in one such settlement, the article shows how disappointment with the implementation of the Peace Agreement, the FARC party's weak performance, and perceived abandonment by former leaders have fueled widespread political disaffection among ex-combatants. At the same time, it traces how grassroots, female-led initiatives have mobilized to meet urgent socioeconomic needs, generating alternative political subjectivities and organizational forms beyond formal institutional channels. By illuminating these dynamics, the article offers new insights into the often-overlooked political dimensions of reintegration processes.