Collective Action and Civilian Agency in Conflict: Peasant Strategies for Peacebuilding in Rural Colombia

This dissertation uses a mixed-methods approach to examine how peasant associations and agricultural cooperatives contribute to violence prevention and peacebuilding in Colombia's conflict-affected rural areas. Grounded in the agrarian question, it combines municipal-level data analysis with testimonies and a regional case study to explore how collective action and civilian agency shape conflict dynamics and foster local resilience. The findings highlight the role of rural organizations not only in resisting armed actors, but in constructing alternative economic that support long-term peace from below.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Planning, Governance, and Globalization

Department dc:contributor.department

Public Administration/Public Affairs

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Davila Saad, Andrea

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Peters, Joel

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Poets, Desiree
• Luke, Timothy W.
• Kitchens, Karin E.

• Collective Action; Civilian Agency; Social and Solidarity Economy; Peasant Associations; Agricultural Cooperatives
• Economic Alternatives; Conflict-Affected Rural Areas; Peacebuilding

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:43317

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/135016