Founded in the 1950s as a response to the repression of landless peasants during a period of extreme conflict know as La Violencia, what began as a loose association of peasant self-defence groups later came under the influence of Communist ideology and was reorganised, in the mid-1960s, into the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Government efforts to root out the guerrilla through a strong military crackdown have reduced FARC’s control and support base in towns and villages in certain areas of the country.