ABSTRACT
The term “paramilitarism” has been defined differently by the various authors that have undertaken its study. While some of these authors have defined paramilitarism as the exercising of violence by criminal groups, such as urban or rural militias, death squads, self-defense forces, or local watchmen (Campbell, 2000; Cubides, 1999; Huggins, 1991; Manitzas, 1991; Warren, 1998), others have described it as an association between irregular groups and some members of a State’s armed forces, seeking to fight the threat and subversion of organized crime. However different these views are, there is complete agreement between authors on the facts that the actions conducted by paramilitary groups are illegal or an abuse of power, and that the objective of such groups is the defense of individual, political, or corrupt interests.
