| Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, Conflict Studies and Management

Dr. Alejandra Ortiz-Ayala’s Research Recognized as Editor’s Choice Publication

The Willy Brandt School of Public Policy is proud to announce that Dr. Alejandra Ortiz-Ayala’s article, “Willingness to protect civilians after peace accords: A survey experiment in a field setting among Colombian soldiers,” has been selected as an Editor’s Choice publication by Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. This distinction is reserved for contributions that the journal’s editorial board identifies as particularly impactful and pioneering within the field, underscoring the significance of Dr. Ortiz-Ayala’s scholarship for contemporary debates on peacebuilding, civil–military relations, and human rights.

Drawing on a field-survey experiment with Colombian soldiers, the article investigates how political identities, threat perceptions, and the enduring psychological legacies of armed conflict shape the willingness of security sector personnel to protect civilians in post-accord contexts. The study offers important insights into the persistence of wartime mentalities within state security forces, the challenges of translating peace agreements into everyday protection practices, and potential pathways for strengthening training, accountability, and security sector reform.

This recognition reflects Dr. Ortiz-Ayala’s long-standing commitment to advancing rigorous, policy-relevant research on state–society relations in conflict-affected settings and highlights the excellence of the research environment at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy and the University of Erfurt. We congratulate Dr. Ortiz-Ayala on this outstanding achievement and look forward to the continued impact of her scholarly work.

Full Citation:
Ortiz-Ayala, A. (2025). Willingness to protect civilians after peace accords: A survey experiment in a field setting among Colombian soldiers. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. DOI: 10.1037/pac0000788

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