Paramilitary

A paramilitary organization is a group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion.

Related Topics:
Civilian - Military

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Paramilitary, like paramedic and paralegal, comes from Greek para ("beside"). Paramilitary means auxiliary military, that is, something not quite military performing military duties. There are political connotations to paramilitary which often override the original meaning. Those political connotations, however, are localized and contradictory. There are paramilitary units that are an official legislated arm of the government, anti-government armed units that claim military status, and civilian paramilitary units that are neither, and other groups that are something in between.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Paramilitary groups can serve many different functions. Some are created by governments as paramilitary police (Gendarmerie) or other internal security forces. Some are revolutionary groups using traditional or guerilla warfare to oppose the government. Others are private militias intended to enforce order without the niceties of the rule of law. Some are commando units created by a state and intended for non-traditional combat missions, operating outside the official military. Other paramilitary groups adopt military organization and aspects of military culture and discipline, but are not intended to fight at all.

Related Topics:
Gendarmerie - Guerilla warfare - Militia - Rule of law - Commando

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~