Imagining Collective Reincorporation: Perceptions of Colombia's Novel Approach to Peacebuilding.

This article examines the unique collective "reincorporation" process of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) following the 2016 peace agreement, contrasting it with previous individual "reintegration" programs for ex-combatants. Unlike traditional reintegration, which emphasizes individual disarmament, renunciation of armed group identity, and societal forgiveness, the FARC’s reincorporation involves demobilized members maintaining their organizational identity, living collectively in designated camps called Espacios Territoriales de Capacitación y Reincorporación (ETCRs), and pursuing joint socioeconomic projects. This collectivist approach, unprecedented in postconflict settings, raises questions about security, psychological recovery, community relations, and long-term sustainability, especially amid ongoing violence and political polarization in Colombia. The article highlights the FARC’s direct involvement in planning reincorporation through the National Reincorporation Council and suggests that this model may influence future Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) efforts both in Colombia and globally, while emphasizing the need for further research on its social and political impacts.