Outsourcing Coercion: The Emergence of State-Sponsored Militias in Colombia

My dissertation explores the decision of the Colombian government to formalize collaboration with nonstate security actors, focusing on the role local elites, like landowners, played in this process. This collaboration was institutionalized through the Convivir program, which allowed civilian militias to provide counterinsurgency intelligence to state forces. From 1994 to 2001, 421 of Colombia's 1,103 municipalities established Convivir groups. Previously, I conducted 12 interviews with landowners and politicians and began gathering administrative data. The funding allowed me to obtain granular data on Convivir groups, a central element for my analysis. Conducting research reliant on administrative data presents challenges, especially when dealing with undigitized historical records, which often involve unpredictable delays. To navigate this, I pursued several data collection strategies in parallel—utilizing newspapers, state offices, and archival requests—ultimately finding success through one avenue. During waiting periods, I conducted interviews, which helped to deepen my understanding. Currently, I am processing interview notes to refine theoretical perspectives, and the data acquired is central to my dissertation’s analysis.