This study is about social movements (SM) of victims in Colombia and how both legal and political opportunities opened by the Law of Justice and Peace in 2005 led to their visibility as social actors in the political arena. This research investigates the relationship of these organizations with political parties and the state in light of the internal conflict as a relevant variable. To illustrate my argument I build a narrative of the Colombian history analyzing the social, political, and economic circumstances that provoke the escalating violence, and in consequence the victims" existence. Then, I evaluate and classified the scholarship about SM, political parties, and the state, in three types: SM that aspire to become a political party, SM that try to rewrite the statesociety relationship from below, and SM that negotiate and cooperate with political parties but maintain their autonomy and independence. I used data from the National Prosecutor office and the Reparation and Reconciliation Commission, to prove the connections of the victims" organizations growth the peace and justice process carried out by the presidency of Álvaro Uribe with the paramilitaries. Data prove a significant increase of victims as both individuals and organizations since 2005. Findings demonstrate how political parties have systematically failed to address victims" claims, and the state stands as sole support of the victims" reparation. As a consequence, victims" organizations play a relevant role addressing this population needs negotiating directly with the state and the parties. Therefore, both political parties and the government have to undertake deliberate and straightforward policies and programs in favor of any form of social movements of victims.

Spanish English translation/explanation APRA movement American Popular Revolutionary Alliance Balneario Beach bathing area Caletas Small artisanal fishers' location, wharf or cove Campesino Peasant Carné de pescador artesanal Artisanal Fisher Identification Costa Verde Project Development plan for Lima's coastal strip Costanera, Road along the Lima's coastal strip Criollos European descendants born in Hispanic-America Doctores Generic designation to upper-class individuals DS 005/2012 Decree which regulates anchovy fishing Fileteros and fileteadores Person (men or women) who cut the fish into fillets Flota bolichera Fleet of semi-industrial trawlers Fondo Nacional para el Desarrollo Pesquero y la Acuicultura (Fondepes) viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I owe sincere gratitude to each and every member of the community of artisanal fishing of Chorrillos. Also, I would like to thank to the association' leadership for their constant support and collaboration since the beginning of the project. In particular, I would like to offer my gratitude to Julio César Quispe Alzamora, mi compadre, for his friendship and care, and the Baldo family, for being always around and ready to help during my visits to the dock. This dissertation would not have been possible without them. I would like to thank my co-major professors Maximilian Viatori and Jan Flora, and my committee members Cornelia Flora, Elisa Rizo and Christina Gish Hill. I could not think in a better, more balanced and supportive committee. I am especially thankful to Max for his unrestricted support, his guidance and for showing me the path to become a social scientist and a better social advocate; thank you for the friendship to which all these years of travelling and sharing have given rise. I would like to acknowledge Cornelia and Jan for being my academic, intellectual, political and social justice mentors through all these years of doctoral studies. You helped me become a better person, citizen and scholar. Special thanks goes to each person of my network of collaborators from the artisanal fishing sector in Peru; a lot of Peruvians helped me understand with great patience and consideration their country's culture and nature; I will always be grateful to all of them. In particular, I would like to mention Jesica and Juan Carlos for being always available for my questions and for a good conversation. Finally, many thanks go out to all my friends here and elsewhere for just been there for me.