The challenge of political transformation of armed and banned groups

I am currently attending a retreat outside Nairobi, Kenya on "The challenge of political transformation of armed and banned groups" co-sponsored by the UNDP and the Berghof Research Center. I am one of the individuals invited to talk a little about the experiences of Central and South America, a region which has seen its fair share of armed actors. Every region of the world looks like it is represented.

Tomorrow I get to speak a little more about the historical transitions in Central and South America while others will look at contemporary dynamics in Colombia. I think one other participant will discuss gangs, paramilitaries, and drug cartels which seems to be the concern for Latin America but doesn't necessarily fit within the retreats's themes (at least from my perspective).

We still have a lot to learn from the region's experience and a lot to learn how much of its experience is relevant to other conflicts. In Latin America, we have failed guerrilla groups (Tupamaros), partially successful groups (FMLN), and successful groups (FSLN) that have have all found their way to the presidency through democratic elections. In Brazil, we have more of an individual tied to an urban armed group that is now in the presidency. We also have guerrilla groups that have been moderately successful (M-19) and not so successful (URNG, Contras, and the Patriotic Union). And while all these conflicts are over, there remain ongoing conflicts in Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, and to some extent with the Zapatistas in Mexico.

It's a rich region for scholars to pursue a number of questions related to the emergence and endurance of armed groups as well as their successful and failed transitions to electoral politics. Case studies and comparative studies, local, regional, national, and transnational dynamics, the region is ripe.