Community organization and armed group behaviour: Evidence from Colombia

This paper investigates how armed groups affect the organization of local communities during conflict in Colombia. We estimate effect communities’ exposure to with an econometric specification that takes into account individual and municipality-year fixed effects instrumental variable approach exploits variations presence rural induced by peace negotiations members Revolutionary Armed Forces Colombia—People’s Army. Our results show each community between survey rounds is accompanied a reduction participation individuals organizations strong institutional set-up before arrival group. observe opposite weaker pre-existing institutions. These are consistent theoretical model which capture for strategic war purposes. Supplementary material Online Appendix