The Dust Between Two Fires: Civilian Militias in Ayacucho, Peru and Middle Magdalena

Author (Your Name)

Catherine S. Coffman, Colby College

Date of Award

2009

Document Type

Honors Thesis (Colby Access Only)

Department

Colby College. History Dept.

Advisor(s)

Ben W. Fallaw

Second Advisor

Elizabeth D. Leonard

Abstract

The "Millenarian War," the name for this twenty-year conflict between the peasants, state forces, and Sendero Luminoso in Peru had reached its end by 2000, after the death of 69,000 people, most of who were Quechua-peaking peasants from the highlands. The rondas dissolved peacefully after the end of the conflict. In Colombia, the violence that began in the 1980s continues today. The paramilitaries have become full-fledged participants in the conflict and are as much of a threat to the state as the guerrillas. What can explain this difference? Why did the rondos compesinas find success and disarm peacefully, while Colombia's paramilitaries only made the civil war worse?

Comments

Note: Full-text unavailable (including Colby College).

Keywords

Civilian Militias, rondas campesinas, Peru, Columbia, Sendero Luminoso, FARC

Recommended Citation

Coffman, Catherine S., "The Dust Between Two Fires: Civilian Militias in Ayacucho, Peru and Middle Magdalena" (2009). Honors Theses. Paper 546.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/546

Copyright

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