Milicia

A militia is a military force raised from the civilian population to supplement the regular armed forces in times of emergency, war, or civil unrest. Unlike professional standing armies, militias can be organized as part-time, voluntary, or irregular units, often with looser command structures and varying degrees of formal state supervision. The concept exists in many legal systems and has been shaped by history, culture, and politics.

Origins and definitions: The term derives from Latin miles, soldier, and has roots in medieval and early modern Europe where local communities maintained armed citizen groups for defense. In contemporary political systems, “militia” can refer to state-organized reserve forces, volunteer corps, or paramilitary groups outside official armed forces. In the United States, the militia has historically included part-time citizen-soldiers and is reflected in the organized militia (state defense forces and the National Guard) and the unorganized militia recognized by law. Other countries have similar structures, or, in some cases, non-state militias that operate independently of the government.

Types and roles: State or constitutional militias are designed to support regular forces and perform tasks such as disaster response, border or internal security, and other duties as assigned. Irregular or insurgent militias may arise in civil conflict or occupation. Civilian defense groups, ethnic or religious militias, and paramilitary formations may provide security or political leverage, sometimes operating legally within a state’s framework, other times outside it or in violation of the law.

Legal status and regulation: Legality varies by jurisdiction. Some countries regulate, restrict, or ban non-state militias; others formalize them as reserve or auxiliary forces. International law permits self-defense by legitimate state actors while limiting non-state armed groups and prohibiting abuses that fall outside recognized rules of war and human rights.

Examples: Switzerland’s militia-based army system; the U.S. National Guard and state defense forces; the Basij in Iran; and various historical and contemporary militia movements worldwide.