ABSTRACT
The Colombian conflict has been the longest in the Western hemisphere, and by the dawn of the new century Colombians have had it with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has been an active party in the Colombian conflict and other violent actors. FARC has also been described as a hypercartel, and even as a narco-insurgency, especially after the elimination of the Medellin and Cali Cartels. Given FARC’s recurrence to terror attacks and financing through cocaine, it is tempting to simply categorise it as a narco-terrorist organisation. FARC progressively evolved into one, as the cocaine-based economy pulled combatants into criminality. In the beginning, FARC’s capacity to challenge the state through the force of arms was almost null. Rebels had a strong ideal about fighting for the welfare of peasants in the marginalised Colombian countryside. Differing aims and FARC’s intention to control a larger part of the drug production/trade chain triggered a confrontation with the cartels.
