Post war and non war violences: learning about peace and peacebuilding from Latin America

The introduction to this Special Issue sets out why it is important to learn from Latin America about peace and the building of peace. In particular, it explains why it matters to see peace in relationship to violence and not just war. It highlights the significance of the high homicide rates in the region, but also the reproduction of ‘chronic violence’, and why multiple expressions of violence have impacted on countries of the region which have experienced war and those which have not. Latin America’s high levels of violences even after peace processes, can also teach us about the challenges of building peace after war. The Colombia case studies reveal both creative potential for peace in the region and the many limitations.