An Historical Review and Analysis of Colombian Guerrilla Movements: FARC, ELN and EPL

Colombian guerrilla movements have increasingly been associated with illicit activity and terror. This paper is divided into two main sections. The first section traces the roots of the FARC, ELN and EPL guerrilla movements and describes how traditional Marxist-style guerrilla groups became more associated with crime and kidnapping than political ideals. The second turns to the economics literature to explain the observed guerrilla behavior relating it to traditional guerrilla movements, organized crime and extortion.