Paramilitary 📖 Wikipedia

A paramilitary is an armed, militarized-like force or unit that functions and is organized in a manner analogous to a military force, but does not have professional or legitimate status.^[1] The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934.^[2] It has been used by many different political organizations from around the world throughout history.^[3] Paramilitaries have widely been synonymous with violence, political repression, ethnic cleansing, genocide and crimes against humanity.^[4] Paramilitaries may use combat-capable kit/equipment (such as internal security/SWAT vehicles), or even actual military equipment (such as armored personnel carriers;^{[citation needed]} usually military surplus resources) that are compatible with their purpose, often combining them with skills from other relevant fields such as law enforcement, coast guard, or search and rescue.^{[citation needed]} A paramilitary may fall under the command of a military, train alongside them, or have permission to use their resources, despite not actually being part of them.^[5]

Legality

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Under the law of war, a state may incorporate a paramilitary organization or armed agency (such as a law enforcement agency or a private volunteer militia) into its combatant armed forces. Some countries' constitutions prohibit paramilitary organizations outside government use.

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Depending on the definition adopted, "paramilitaries" may include:

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Armed, semi-militarized wings of political parties and similar political organizations, such as the German Schutzstaffel and Italian Blackshirts.

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^ "paramilitary". Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. June 2011 [online edition; original published in June 2005]. 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.
^ "paramilitary". Oxford English Dictionary (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
^ Doxsee, Catrina (August 12, 2025). "Examining Extremism: The Militia Movement". Center for Strategic and International Studies.
^ Dasgputa, Sunil (April 6, 2003). "Paramilitaries on the March". Brookings.
^ Böhmelt, Tobias; Clayton, Govinda (February 2018). "Auxiliary Force Structure: Paramilitary Forces and Progovernment Militias". Comparative Political Studies. 51 (2): 197–237. doi:10.1177/0010414017699204. hdl:10654/38817. ISSN 0010-4140.
^ Aliyev, Huseyn (2016). "Strong militias, weak states and armed violence: towards a theory of 'state-parallel' paramilitaries" (PDF). Security Dialogue. 47 (6): 498–516. doi:10.1177/0967010616669900.