The role of Transformative Action Research in territorial peace building: Insights for New Area Studies

War and peace have been extensively researched in Colombia over the past decades. However, little is said about the role that research can play as a driver of change in the transition from war to peace when research is carried out with those who have been part of the dynamics of the conflict or have found themselves in the middle of the crossfire. In this article, we discuss the experience of the "School, Territory and Post-Conflict: Grounding a Local Peace Culture in South Tolima, Colombia" project working with eight community organisations between 2018 and 2022 studying their experiences building peace during the armed conflict between the Revolution Armed Force of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government, and after the 2016 peace agreement. We discuss the transdisciplinary journey of the project and of transformations we have witnessed as a result with the hope that the lessons learned can inform ongoing discussions about how to widen further the research and methodological frontiers of New Areas Studies and beyond.