Gendarmería

Gendarmería, or gendarmerie, refers to a national security force that combines military organization with police powers. The term derives from the French gendarme, meaning mounted police; historically, gendarmeries were corps of soldiers assigned to policing rural areas and escort duties within a state. In many countries, gendarmerie-style forces operate under a civilian ministry (often Interior) but retain militarized training, ranks, and equipment.

Functions typically include maintaining public order, border control and customs, transportation security, counter-terrorism, criminal investigation, and sometimes aid during disasters. They often operate in both urban and rural areas but with emphasis on areas outside major cities where civilian police presence is weaker.

Examples: France's Gendarmerie Nationale is a major military police force within the Interior Ministry; it operates under civilian oversight but retains military status and participates in national defense. Argentina's Gendarmería Nacional Argentina is a federal security force responsible for border control, migrations, smuggling, and organized crime suppression; it is part of the Ministry of Security and cooperates with other federal and provincial forces.

Other countries have similar organizations, sometimes under different names, such as Guardia Civil in Spain and Carabinieri in Italy, which are widely described as gendarmerie-type forces. The concept has expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries across Europe and the Americas.

Contemporary debates center on the balance between civilian policing and military-style methods, oversight, and human rights concerns; reforms focus on ensuring civilian control, accountability, and appropriate use of force.