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{{Colombia conflict}}
The '''Socio-economic structure''' of the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia|FARC-EP]] refers to the FARC's social structure and economic activities. The FARC is mostly a military organization, but generally these aspects are considered to be of importance by analysts. There are lot non-military policies and activities involved, having been implemented throughout the FARC's four decades of history.

==Background==
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For the purpose of realizing the practical existence of the FARC's socio-economic policies, it was necessary for outsiders to visit territories under the FARC's control. Throughout the decades, many journalists, reporters and intelligence experts from Colombia, Latin America and beyond the region visited the FARC's fragmented enclaves in remote rural areas. The reports produced by these visitors 
  were later taken into consideration by the FARC's outside supporters and sympathizers, as well as by their enemies (such as the Colombian government and the [[CIA]]). The resulting reactions were based on their favorable and unfavorable perceptions of the FARC's policies. Some observers believe in wanting to support the FARC's structure and some want to destroy it. The socio-economic structure built by the FARC serves as a sort of model for the future socialist state they wish to establish, additionally allowing them to continue to build their own strength and support base.

==Political Doctrine==
The political doctrine of the FARC-EP is based on [[Marxism-Leninism]], Cuban and Guevarean influence, Bolivarian ideology and Christian Liberation theology. The FARC's political doctrine covers every fact relating to their society as result of the mixture of the above philosophies, illustrating the perspectives of the political and socio-economic model of their future socialist state.

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The FARC has openly sought to put in practice Communist theory from 1964 onward. One person believed responsible for this practice was [[Jacobo Arenas]], and he taught his fellow revolutionaries 
  quoting the books such as [[Das Kapital]], [[Development of Capitalism in Russia]] and [[Guerrilla Warefare]], written by [[Karl Marx]] / [[Friedrich Engels]], [[V.I. Lenin]] and [[Che Guevara]] respectively. Many writings of Jacobo Arenas are about the adaptation of Communism into the Colombian socio-economic reality. In particular, the status given to women in the FARC's doctrine is considered to be a significant starting point, stating that men and women can assume the same roles in the guerrilla or(contracted; show full)

One of the most significant activities put into practice by the FARC is their analysis of the failures and benefits of every Marxist theory, adapted to the diverse revolutionary states and 
  movements around the world. The clandestine political bases of the FARC within rural villages and urban municipalties study these aspects deeply. Sometime in the future, it is thought that the FARC and their political bases will seize power in Colombia. After this, the FARC's political cadres and workers will be to carry out different tasks regarding nationwide socio-economic development. They also consider that they will then take into consideration the significant participation of women in the proces(contracted; show full) of [[Óscar Romero]], the archbishop of San Salvador which was killed by troops of the U.S. trained [[Atla Catle]] battalion while conducting a mass on March 24, 1980. In 1997, he was assigned sainthood by Pope John Paul II, bestowing upon him the title of "Servant of God". Outside of Catholicism, Romero also is honored by other religious denominations, like the Church of England through its Common Worship. Romero has also been considered as a spiritual patron of Latin America and of [[Liberation
_  Theology|liberation theology]].

=="People's Education"==
The concept of "people's education´" was significant to the FARC even before the 1964 attack on Marquetalia. Traditionally, proper education has been limited to higher income classes in Latin America, as well as in Colombia, due to the historical absence of possibilities for free education. Illiterate peasant communities have historically existed throughout Colombia and the region. The FARC believe that human beings have(contracted; show full)led it socialist economy. The requirement of the market is depending on the amount of money which the people have and in the socialist economy they do a survey among the society to find out the requirement and the entire economy is focused on that. In the socialist economy they categorize the people's needs such as domestic goods (essential for day to day life such as food, clothing, medicine etc.), semi luxury items (not very much essential but it need for a comfortable life such as quality clothing,
   music/movies, telephones, radio/television, small vehicles (bicycles) etc.) and luxury items (the items are not essential). The production of the domestic items are very high amount in socialist economy and very little amount is luxury items.

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The rural economy and the economy based on domestic consumption is quite different. The humans requirements are expanding and they need money for the education of the children, health, transportation, entertainment etc. The people living in these enclaves also find the ways to earn more money to fulfill 
  the above requirements. The rebels has to involved in small manufacturing industries and cultivating of the plants which has high market value. In 1980's after paramilitary threat increased and their main business of drugs provoke and encourage the people in these enclaves to cultivate [[coca]], the plant with a very high market value because it used to extract the [[cocaine]] (the most expensive drug in the world today).

There is another area which the people are involved in, that is the supplying of things to the FARC such as food and equipment needed them. The people who are living inside their control areas also encourage to supply things regularly to the FARC and they paying money to the people. The vocational training also provided by them to manufacture the things and some of the things relating to military are manufacturing secretly under the supervision of the guerrillas.

It has long been believed by the United States and the Colombian government that the FARC's main source of income is that of coca plant cultivation and cocaine production. THe [[CIA]] believes that reducing coca farming and eliminating cocaine production will have strong economic repercussions for the FARC . Towards this end, the [[Plan Colombia]] has been organised.

===Future Pplans===
Colombia is a country which has valuable natural resources such as petroleum, natural gas and coal, which at present are controlled by American and Colombian corporations. The FARC, [[National Liberation Army (Colombia)|ELN]], and similar organisations are in opposition to the foreign ownership of resources and wish to expropriate them in order to finance their own efforts and build their infrastructure further. There were several attacks carried out by the ELN to destroy the petroleum pipe line (Tr(contracted; show full)
*''War in Colombia: Made in U.S.A.'', edited by Rebeca Toledo, Teresa Gutierrez, Sara Flounders and Andy McInerney, ISBN 0965691691, 2003
*''The Profits of Extermination: How U.S. Corporate Power is Destroying Colombia'', Aviva Chomsky and Francisco Ramírez Cuellar, Common Courage Press, ISBN 1567513220, 2005

[[Category:Communism]]
[[Category:Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]]