Description
While a plethora of literature exists on the political participation of demobilized rebels in conventional party politics, research on their involvement in other forms of politics such as protest movements is scarce. Yet, peace process societies are often prone to contentious politics, and demobilized rebels are likely participants. Based on extensive field research regarding Colombia's 2021 mass protests, this study analyzes the necessary conditions for former rebels' protest participation, the different types of involvement, and the resulting impact. Results indicate that both security concerns and links to local communities are key factors for former rebels' protest participation, which may occur individually or through organizations derived from the former rebel group. The analysis contributes to discussions on post-conflict political stability and post-conflict rebel political participation.
