The FARC and Hugo Chavez is contemporary Venezuela a threat to Colombia?

Abstract

The Colombian government has been fighting the FARC for more than forty years and since 2002 has proven to be more effective in it. However, in the last years a link of support has arisen between the FARC and Hugo ChaÌ vez's Bolivarian government of Venezuela. The FARC's Bolivarian Campaign for a New Colombia has intertwined with the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela and by doing so, the FARC has guaranteed for itself not only an ideological vessel to export its revolutionary project throughout Latin America, but also a stronghold in the neighboring country. In order to analyze both movements, elements of Social Movement Theory provides a general theoretical framework for understanding why the two organizations are attracted to each other and how the transformation of Venezuela has allowed the presence of terrorist groups in its territory. The results of the analysis here are conclusive. The government of Venezuela's support for the FARC goes well beyond sympathy with its political objectives and even now, more terrorist organizations (such as ETA) are starting to use Venezuela as a safe haven.