The Limits of Participation Without Economic Justice in Peacebuilding: A Study of Colombia

Despite the growing emphasis on local participation in peacebuilding, there is a lack of knowledge of how decisions are made regarding socio-economic interventions within participatory spaces, especially when local people's interests conflict with those of major economic actors. This study addresses the need to understand these complex dynamics by synthesizing Lukes’ three-dimensional power theory with Fraser's justice theory into an analytical framework. Using Colombia's Territorially Focused Development Programs (PDETs) as a case study, this research argues that when participation is disconnected from the politics of economic redistribution, increased local participation does not lead to transformative outcomes. Empirical evidence from interviews and observations of PDET planning meetings demonstrates that the decision-making power of participants is often undermined in the face of territorial economic interests. This article contributes both theoretically and empirically to the peacebuilding literature by proposing and testing an analytical framework that enhances our understanding of local participation in programs promising transformative changes within contexts of economic inequality.