This thesis by Drew Lasater (2009) deals with the “Adaptability of the FARC and ELN and the Prediction of their Future Actions” in Colombia. The author states that “Colombia is Latin America’s oldest democracy [and] has faced continual violence and a guerrilla war that has made the nation weak and fragmented. This violent foundation of the Colombian state made it open to a new wave of political ideologies in the 20th century.” He also argues that “the purpose of this research is to provide an analysis of the two main guerrilla factions in the country –the FARC and the ELN –and predict the future of these groups. Studying the history of these organizations and their adaptability within the Colombian context provides insight into the emergence of guerrilla warfare and the problems for the state.”