The Center for Latin American Studies takes pride in sharing the recent success of one of its distinguished members, Andrés González-Saiz, in defending his doctoral thesis “A Belligerent Peace: Military Victimhood and Counterinsurgency in Transitional Colombia” on March 22, 2024.
As an instructor at the CLAS at Rutgers, Andrés has demonstrated exceptional commitment in the field of cultural anthropology, as well as in studying the issues affecting societies immersed in violent conflicts. Under the guidance of his advisor, Professor Ulla D. Berg, he explored the origin and circulation of the concept of "military victim" within the Colombian Armed Forces.
His doctoral research sheds light on the complex interplay between the military, the political, and the human within the context of the Havana Peace Process (2012-present). By examining the political uses of this concept by the political and economic elites of that country, González-Saiz offers a critical view of the humanitarian narratives employed for counterinsurgency purposes, as well as the militarization projects characterizing contemporary societies.
The successful defense of his thesis enriches the field of cultural anthropology with new perspectives and deep analyses on fundamental issues of justice, power, and violence in Latin America.
From the CLAS, we extend our congratulations to Andrés González-Saiz for this outstanding achievement and look forward to the continued contributions he will make in his academic career and beyond. Congratulations!