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m (Remove some templates. interwiki links, delink non military terms, cleanup and move Wikipedia link above categories, replaced: ==References== {{reflist}} ==Further reading== * Golkar, Saeid. (2012) [http://afs.sagepub.com/content/38/4/625.abstra...)
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[[File:Iranian soldier shooting with DShk.jpg|thumb|220px|Paramilitaries of Iran man a heavy machine gun during [[Iran-Iraq War]]]]
  
[[File:Iranian soldier shooting with DShk.jpg|thumb|220px|Paramilitaries of Iran man a heavy machine gun during [[Iran-Iraq War]]]]
   
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A '''paramilitary''' is a militarised force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional [[military]], but which is not considered part of a [[State (polity)|state's]] formal [[armed forces]].<ref name=Reference-OED-paramilitary>{{cite book| chapter=paramilitary| title=[[Oxford English Dictionary]]| publisher=Oxford University Press| edition=3rd| date=June 2005; online version June 2011| url=http://oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&q=paramilitary| accessdate=2011-09-13| quote=Designating, of, or relating to a force or unit whose function and organization are analogous or ancillary to those of a professional military force, but which is not regarded as having professional or legitimate status.}}</ref> Under the [[Law of Armed Conflict]], a state may incorporate a paramilitary organization or armed agency (charged with police functions) into its armed forces. The other parties to a conflict have to be notified thereof.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v2_cou_nl_rule4_sectionb |title=Customary IHL - Section B. Incorporation of paramilitary or armed law enforcement agencies into armed forces |publisher=Icrc.org |date= |accessdate=2013-07-27}}</ref>
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A '''paramilitary''' (sometimes listed as '''quasi-military''') is a militarised force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional [[military]], but which is not considered part of a state's formal [[armed forces]].<ref name=Reference-OED-paramilitary>{{cite book| chapter=paramilitary| title=Oxford English Dictionary| publisher=Oxford University Press| edition=3rd| date=June 2005; online version June 2011| url=http://oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&q=paramilitary| accessdate=2011-09-13| quote=Designating, of, or relating to a force or unit whose function and organization are analogous or ancillary to those of a professional military force, but which is not regarded as having professional or legitimate status.}}</ref> Under the [[Law of Armed Conflict]], a state may incorporate a paramilitary organization or armed agency (charged with police functions) into its armed forces. The other parties to a conflict have to be notified thereof.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v2_cou_nl_rule4_sectionb |title=Customary IHL - Section B. Incorporation of paramilitary or armed law enforcement agencies into armed forces |publisher=Icrc.org |accessdate=2013-07-27}}</ref>
   
 
The term ''paramilitary'' is subjective, depending on what is considered similar to a military force, and what status a force is considered to have. The nature of paramilitary forces therefore varies greatly according to the speaker and the context.
  
The term ''paramilitary'' is subjective, depending on what is considered similar to a military force, and what status a force is considered to have. The nature of paramilitary forces therefore varies greatly according to the speaker and the context.
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Depending on context, "paramilitaries" may include:
  
Depending on context, "paramilitaries" may include:
   
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===Irregular forces===
 
* [[Irregular military]] forces: [[militia]]s, [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]]s, [[insurgency|insurgent]]s, and so forth
  
* [[Irregular military]] forces: [[militia]]s, [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]]s, [[insurgency|insurgent]]s, and so forth
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===Auxiliary forces===
 
* The auxiliary forces of a state's military
  
* The auxiliary forces of a state's military
  ⚫
* [[State Defense Force]]s of individual US States
  ⚫
* The [[Pakistan Rangers|Rangers]] of Pakistan
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  +
===Law enforcement===
 
* Some kinds of [[police forces]], e.g. [[auxiliary police]]
  
* Some kinds of [[police forces]], e.g. [[auxiliary police]]
  ⚫
* The [[GSG-9]] of Germany
 
* [[Gendarmerie]]s, e.g. [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (Gendarmerie royale du Canada), Egyptian [[Central Security Forces]] and India's [[Central Reserve Police Force]]
  
* [[Gendarmerie]]s, e.g. [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (Gendarmerie royale du Canada), Egyptian [[Central Security Forces]] and India's [[Central Reserve Police Force]]
  ⚫
* The [[National Security Guards]] of India
  ⚫
* The [[Carabinieri]] and [[Guardia di Finanza]] of Italy
 
* [[Border guard]]s, e.g. Russia's [[Border Guard Service of Russia|Border Guard Service]]
  
* [[Border guard]]s, e.g. Russia's [[Border Guard Service of Russia|Border Guard Service]]
 
* Security forces of ambiguous military status, e.g. Russia's [[Internal Troops]]
  
* Security forces of ambiguous military status, e.g. Russia's [[Internal Troops]]
  ⚫
* The Russian [[Spetsnaz]]
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* Militarized police forces, e.g. [[Law enforcement in the United States|Law enforcement officers]] of the United States
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* Militarized police forces, e.g. [[Law enforcement in the United States|Law enforcement officers]] and SWAT Teams of the United States
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⚫
In the United Kingdom, the term is often restricted to armed groups involved in the [[Northern Ireland Troubles]], such as the [[Ulster Volunteer Force]] or the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]].
  
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=== Examples ===
  
⚫
* The [[United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia|Self-Defense Forces]] of [[Colombia]]
  
⚫
* The [[National Security Guards]] of [[India]]
  
⚫
* The [[GSG-9]] of [[Germany]]
  
⚫
* The [[Spetsnaz]] of [[Russia]]
  
⚫
* The [[Carabinieri]] and [[Guardia di Finanza]] of [[Italy]]
  
⚫
* The [[Basij]] of [[Iran]]
  
⚫
* The [[Fedayeen Saddam]] of [[Ba'athist Iraq]]
  
⚫
* The [[Pakistan Rangers|Rangers]] of [[Pakistan]]
  
⚫
* The [[Patriotic Guards (Romania)|Patriotic Guards]] of [[Communist Romania]]
  
⚫
* The [[Waffen]], [[Schutzstaffel]] (SS), [[Sturmabteilung]] (SA) and [[Hitler Youth]] (HJ) (From 1940 onwards) of [[Nazi Germany]]
 
⚫
* The [[Village guard system|Village Guards]] of [[Turkey]]
  
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* The [[SWAT]] units of some Law Enforcement agencies in the [[United States]]
  
⚫
* [[State Defense Force]]s of individual [[US State]]s
  
⚫
* The [[Red Guards (China)|Red Guards]] of [[Maoist China]]
  
 
* The [[Mobile Brigade (Indonesia)]] of [[Indonesia]]
  
* The [[Mobile Brigade (Indonesia)]] of [[Indonesia]]
 
* The [[Special Task Force]] of Sri Lanka
  
* The [[Special Task Force]] of Sri Lanka
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* The [[Irish National Liberation Army]] of [[Ireland]]
  
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* The [[Irish Republican Army]] of [[Ireland]]
  
   
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== See also ==
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===Political===
  ⚫
* [[Weimar paramilitary groups]]
  ⚫
* The [[Patriotic Guards (Romania)|Patriotic Guards]] of Communist Romania
  ⚫
* The [[Waffen]], [[Schutzstaffel]] (SS), Sturmabteilung (SA) and [[Hitler Youth]] (HJ) (From 1940 onwards) of [[Nazi Germany]]
  ⚫
* The [[Red Guards (China)|Red Guards]] of [[Maoist China]]
  ⚫
* In the United Kingdom, the term is often restricted to armed groups involved in the [[Northern Ireland Troubles]], such as the [[Ulster Volunteer Force]] or the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]]. Also the [[Irish National Liberation Army]] and the [[Irish Republican Army]]
  ⚫
* The [[Basij]] of Iran
  ⚫
* The [[Fedayeen Saddam]] of Ba'athist Iraq
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===Government agencies===
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* CIA Special Activities Center.
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* DEA Special Response Team.
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  +
===Home guards===
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* Volunteer Defence Corps, such as Volunteer Defence Corps in Thailand, Volunteer Defence Corps in Australia, Shanghai Volunteer Corps, and Royal Hong Kong Regiment.
  ⚫
* The [[Village guard system|Village Guards]] of Turkey
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===Civil Defence===
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* The fire departments of many countries and locales, although unarmed, are often organized in a manner similar to military or police forces.
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* The Belgian Civiele Bescherming and Singapore Civil Defence Force.
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* The Australian State Emergency Service.
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==See also==
 
* [[:Category:Paramilitary organizations]]
  
* [[:Category:Paramilitary organizations]]
 
* [[:Category:Rebel militia groups]]
  
* [[:Category:Rebel militia groups]]
⚫
* [[Weimar paramilitary groups]]
  
 
* [[Paramilitary forces of India]]
  
* [[Paramilitary forces of India]]
  ⚫
* The [[United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia|Self-Defense Forces]] of Colombia
 
* [[Fourth generation warfare|Fourth-generation warfare]]
  
* [[Fourth generation warfare|Fourth-generation warfare]]
 
* [[Private army]]
  
* [[Private army]]
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* Golkar, Saeid. (2012). Organization of the Oppressed or Organization for Oppressing: Analysing the Role of the Basij Militia of Iran. Politics, Religion & Ideology, Dec., 37–41. doi:10.1080/21567689.2012.725661
  
* Golkar, Saeid. (2012). Organization of the Oppressed or Organization for Oppressing: Analysing the Role of the Basij Militia of Iran. Politics, Religion & Ideology, Dec., 37–41. doi:10.1080/21567689.2012.725661
   
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== External links ==
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==External links==
 
{{Wiktionary}}
  
{{Wiktionary}}
 
* [http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/colombia/ Human Rights Watch, Colombia and Military-Paramilitary Links]
  
* [http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/colombia/ Human Rights Watch, Colombia and Military-Paramilitary Links]
 
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/index.html Global Security]
  
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/index.html Global Security]
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* [http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/terrorist-groups.cfm List of Terrorist Groups]
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* [https://archive.is/20120629045722/www.cdi.org/terrorism/terrorist-groups.cfm List of Terrorist Groups]
   
 
{{Wikipedia|Paramilitary}}
  
{{Wikipedia|Paramilitary}}
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[[Category:Paramilitary organizations|Paramilitary organizations]]
  
[[Category:Paramilitary organizations|Paramilitary organizations]]
 
[[Category:Military terminology]]
  
[[Category:Military terminology]]
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[[Category:Paramilitary]]

Latest revision as of 20:48, 24 January 2021

Iranian soldier shooting with DShk

Paramilitaries of Iran man a heavy machine gun during Iran-Iraq War

A paramilitary (sometimes listed as quasi-military) is a militarised force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces.[1] Under the Law of Armed Conflict, a state may incorporate a paramilitary organization or armed agency (charged with police functions) into its armed forces. The other parties to a conflict have to be notified thereof.[2]

The term paramilitary is subjective, depending on what is considered similar to a military force, and what status a force is considered to have. The nature of paramilitary forces therefore varies greatly according to the speaker and the context.

Types

Depending on context, "paramilitaries" may include:

Irregular forces

Auxiliary forces

Law enforcement

Political

Government agencies

  • CIA Special Activities Center.
  • DEA Special Response Team.

Home guards

  • Volunteer Defence Corps, such as Volunteer Defence Corps in Thailand, Volunteer Defence Corps in Australia, Shanghai Volunteer Corps, and Royal Hong Kong Regiment.
  • The Village Guards of Turkey

Civil Defence

  • The fire departments of many countries and locales, although unarmed, are often organized in a manner similar to military or police forces.
  • The Belgian Civiele Bescherming and Singapore Civil Defence Force.
  • The Australian State Emergency Service.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "paramilitary". Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. June 2005; online version June 2011. http://oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&q=paramilitary. Retrieved 2011-09-13. "Designating, of, or relating to a force or unit whose function and organization are analogous or ancillary to those of a professional military force, but which is not regarded as having professional or legitimate status." 
  2. ↑ "Customary IHL - Section B. Incorporation of paramilitary or armed law enforcement agencies into armed forces". Icrc.org. http://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v2_cou_nl_rule4_sectionb. Retrieved 2013-07-27. 

Further reading

External links

Wiktionary-logo-en Look up paramilitary in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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