Preventing Rebel Resurgence after Civil War: A Field Experiment in Security and Justice Provision in Rural Colombia

How can states prevent armed groups from exploiting local governance gaps to (re)establish territorial control during transitions national peace? We report results an experimental evaluation of Colombia’s ComunPaz program, a scalable, inexpensive intervention that sought replace rebel by harnessing complementarities between state and communal authorities improving security justice provision in areas once dominated FARC, the country’s largest group. find enhanced quality dispute resolution, increased citizens’ trust (some) institutions, strengthened coordination authorities. It also appears have reduced in, reliance on, groups. The program did not, however, increase on either or resolve disputes, nor it institutions. discuss implications our findings for peace-building state-building countries transitioning civil war.