“This remarkable book combines sensitive ethnography, brave and imaginative analysis, and considerable passion to tell a story for our times about the failures of liberal peace-making in Colombia and the seemingly unbridgeable divide between the state and ordinary people. Its brilliant analysis of liberalism’s limitations provides sparks of hope for a more humane political future.”

Jonathan Spencer, University of Edinburgh

“This brilliant first-of-its-kind anthropological study of peace pedagogy draws lessons for lasting peace even in deeply polarized societies such as Colombia. It is highly recommended to those familiar with Colombia’s peace process and those considering how to adopt effective peace processes in other countries.”

Leigh A. Payne, University of Oxford

“A riveting inside story of the interface between government and the public with an extraordinary breadth of empirical data and a rich resource of lessons learned about countering disinformation. A must-read for all who seek to build better, more holistic narratives of peace in the current context of toxic polarization.”

John Paul Lederach, emeritus, University of Notre Dame

"Burnyeat emphasizes the concept of 'cultural liberalism'as a descriptor for the government’s approach to politics and many of those working for peace. . . The work is informed not only by the results of the plebiscite but by how the regime of President Duque weakened the peace agreement and the promises it contained. . . Recommended." 

Choice