Everything about Militants totally explained
» For the British newspaper and Marxist organization see Militant tendency. For the newspaper of the US Socialist Workers Party see The Militant.
The word
militant has come to refer to any individual or party engaged in aggressive physical or verbal combat, usually for a cause. Journalists often use
militant as a neutral term for soldiers who don't belong to an established government
military organization. Typically, a
militant engages in
violence as part of a claimed struggle against oppression, but the word is sometimes used to describe anyone with strongly held views (for example militant Christian, militant atheist).
Popular usage sometimes sees "militants" as synonymous with
terrorists. The term "militant state" colloquially refers to a state which holds an aggressive posture in support of an
ideology or cause. In
French,
Spanish and
Philippine English the term "militant" retains a more moderate meaning of "activist" which it formerly had in most other varieties of English. In other words, a
militant person is a
confrontative person, regardless of the use of physical violence or pacifistic methods.
Characteristics of militancy
Persons described as
militants -- either individuals or groups (composed of citizens) -- have usually enrolled and trained for
service in a particular cause. Militants may fill their ranks either by
enlistment or by conscription. The term usually implies aggressive and vigorous power. Some militant views have an inherent implication of intolerance. The work and support of militants commonly occurs within the limits of international law, humanity, and
civil disobedience.
The term
militant can describe those who aggressively and violently promote a political philosophy in the name of a movement (and sometimes have an extreme solution for their goal). Sample goals of modern militants may include establishing
dictatorships or establishing a single
world government. The various movements that seek to apply militancy as a solution, or who use militancy to rationalize their solutions for issues in the modern world seldom share common tactics. Traits shared by many militants include:
- employing force or violence directly, either in offence or in defense
- justifying the use of force using the ideological rhetoric of their particular group
A
militant view sometimes constitutes an extremist's position. A person or group in a psychologically
militant state expresses a physically aggressive posture while in support of an
ideology or of a cause.
Potential legal restrictions
One could argue that those resisting a foreign military occupation don't merit the label
terrorists because their acts of political violence against the military targets of a foreign occupier don't violate
international law. Protocol 1 of the
Geneva Conventions gives lawful combatant status to those engaging in armed conflicts against alien (or foreign)
occupation,
colonial domination and
racist régimes. Non-uniformed
guerrillas also gain combatant status if they carry
arms openly during
military operations. Protocol 1 doesn't legitimise attacks on
civilians by militants who fall into these categories, however.
The concept is spelled out in the major
UN General Assembly Resolution on terrorism (42/159, December 7, 1987). which condemns international terrorism and outlines measures to combat the
crime, with one proviso: "that nothing in the present resolution could in any way prejudice the right to self-determination, freedom and independence, as derived from the
Charter of the United Nations, of peoples forcibly deprived of that right..., particularly peoples under colonial and racist regimes and foreign occupation or other forms of colonial domination, nor...the right of these peoples to struggle to this end and to seek and receive support [inaccordance with the Charter and other principles of international law]." The Resolution passed 153-2,
US and
Israel opposed,
Honduras alone abstaining.
Etymology of the word
The word
militant comes from the
15th Century Latin "
militare" meaning "to serve as a
soldier". The related modern concept of the
militia as a defensive
organization against invaders grew out of the Anglo-Saxon "fyrd". In times of crisis, the
militiaman left his
civilian duties and became a soldier until the emergency was over, when he returned to his
civilian status.
Mass media usage of the word
The
mass media often uses the term "
militant" in the context of
terrorism. Journalists often apply the term
militant to movements using
terrorism as a tactic. The mass media also has repeatedly called terrorist organizations
militant groups or
radical militants. The terms often serve to avoid usage of the term
terrorists.
Newspapers, magazines, and other information sources may deem
militant a neutral term, whereas
terrorist conventionally indicates disapproval of the behavior of the individual or organization so labeled, regardless of the motivations for such behavior.
Militant, other times, can refer to any individual engaged in
warfare, a fight,
combat, or generally serving as a
soldier.
Examples
Militants occur across the
political spectrum, including
white supremacists,
separatists,
abortion opponents, and
environmentalists. Examples of
left-wing,
right-wing, and
special interest militants include militant
reformers, militant
feminists, militant
animal rights advocates, and
anarchists. The phrase
militant Islam can suggest (excessively) violent and aggressive political activity by Islamic individuals, groups, movements, or governments. The phrase
militant atheist is usually used as a
pejorative by critics when discussing those people who are more outspoken than the general population on subjects which explicitly or implicitly promote
atheism. Various secret societies are known to be militarists.
Some groups who identify themselves as militants include:
Further Information
Get more info on 'Militants'.
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