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<p>In the 2000s, Colombian soldiers falsely reported thousands of non-combatant killings, mainly civilians, as combat-related deaths. These crimes are commonly known as “false positives”. This study examines whether Situational Action Theory offers an alternative understanding of soldiers’ involvement in these crimes by analysing their moral judgements and how they acquired the moral views guiding such actions. The research is based on a qualitative analysis of statements from six soldiers involved in 42 false positives between 2002 and 2005. Findings suggest that soldiers perceived these crimes as a viable and acceptable action alternative, citing obedience to orders, victim links to illegal groups, operational pressures, criminal proposals, and rewards. Therefore, both personal morals and the moral context promoted these killings. The soldiers may develop these moral standards through a process of moral education characterised by limited constraints on the use of lethal force, exposure to others’ criminal conduct, external pressures, the redefinition of ‘operational outcomes’, and relationships with paramilitary groups. Stigmatisation and negative portrayals of vulnerable populations, reinforcing dehumanisation, further influenced this process. The absence of effective controls and consequences enabled both the perpetration and normalisation of false positives. These insights provide a basis for further studies on moral education in Colombia. Future research could explore the impact of pre-military education, military experience, rank, and macro-social factors on soldiers’ criminal behaviour.</p>

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Killings Falsely Reported as Combat Deaths by the Colombian Military: A Situational Action Theory Analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月20日

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  • Sandy Vera Giraldo

摘要

In the 2000s, Colombian soldiers falsely reported thousands of non-combatant killings, mainly civilians, as combat-related deaths. These crimes are commonly known as “false positives”. This study examines whether Situational Action Theory offers an alternative understanding of soldiers’ involvement in these crimes by analysing their moral judgements and how they acquired the moral views guiding such actions. The research is based on a qualitative analysis of statements from six soldiers involved in 42 false positives between 2002 and 2005. Findings suggest that soldiers perceived these crimes as a viable and acceptable action alternative, citing obedience to orders, victim links to illegal groups, operational pressures, criminal proposals, and rewards. Therefore, both personal morals and the moral context promoted these killings. The soldiers may develop these moral standards through a process of moral education characterised by limited constraints on the use of lethal force, exposure to others’ criminal conduct, external pressures, the redefinition of ‘operational outcomes’, and relationships with paramilitary groups. Stigmatisation and negative portrayals of vulnerable populations, reinforcing dehumanisation, further influenced this process. The absence of effective controls and consequences enabled both the perpetration and normalisation of false positives. These insights provide a basis for further studies on moral education in Colombia. Future research could explore the impact of pre-military education, military experience, rank, and macro-social factors on soldiers’ criminal behaviour.