Policemilitary

Policemilitary is a term used to describe arrangements in which police powers and military capabilities intersect or are combined to address internal security, public order, counterterrorism, and disaster response. It encompasses legal frameworks that define when military or paramilitary forces may support civilian police, the organizational forms that house such capabilities, and the operational practices that govern joint operations. In many countries, the boundary between police and military is defined by distinct institutions—such as civilian police and a separate gendarmerie or internal security service—but there are mechanisms for collaboration or for deploying military resources in support of policing during emergencies.

Historically, states have expanded or reorganized internal security forces during wars, periods of civil unrest, or anti-insurgency campaigns. In the contemporary era, debates center on militarization versus professionalization of policing, proportional use of force, accountability, and human rights considerations. Forms of policemilitary arrangement range from openly paramilitary police under interior ministries to hybrid units trained for both civilian policing and tactical response.

Examples include France’s Gendarmerie, a military-service police force with civilian policing duties; Italy’s Carabinieri, another military corps performing national police functions; Russia’s National Guard, which has internal security responsibilities; and the United States National Guard, which can be mobilized for domestic emergencies under civilian control. The policemilitary model raises questions about civil-liberties protections, command and control, and the proper balance between deterrence, rapid response, and democratic oversight.