State terrorism

State terrorism, also known as state-sponsored terrorism when perpetrated by individuals or groups on behalf of the state but independent of it, are acts of terrorism that are perpetrated by a national government against its own citizens. Basically, it is acts of terror that are perpetrated by the state / government rather than an hostile independent force.

Dictatorships often commit acts of state terror against the populace in order to strike fear into them as well as to eliminate possible dissidents, either via kidnapping, forced disappearances, or outright extrajudicial murder. These acts are often perpetrated by death squads or secret police forces that are specifically given orders to perform the above actions against perceived "enemies of the state".

State terrorism can occur during both wartime and peacetime, and is considered both a war crime and a crime against humanity depending on the situation.

Historical uses of state terrorism
Both Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin implemented state terrorism during their respective tenures as Leader of the Soviet Union.

The most well-known case of state terrorism is Operation Condor, which was carried out by various right-wing military dictatorships all across South America during the 1970's and 80's and was heavily supported by the United States, under direction of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger.

Legal definition as applies to terrorism
There has been some debate on what specifically separates terrorism from state terrorism. The Encyclopædia Britannica Online defines terrorism generally as "the systematic use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective", and states that "terrorism is not legally defined in all jurisdictions." The encyclopedia adds that "[e]stablishment terrorism, often called state or state-sponsored terrorism, is employed by governments – or more often by factions within governments – against that government's citizens, against factions within the government, or against foreign governments or groups."

Scholar Gus Martin describes state terrorism as terrorism "committed by governments and quasi-governmental agencies and personnel against perceived threats", which can be directed against both domestic and foreign targets. Noam Chomsky defines state terrorism as "terrorism practised by states (or governments) and their agents and allies". Jeffrey A. Sluka has described Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman as pioneers in academic studies about state terrorism.

Stohl and George A. Lopez have designated three categories of state terrorism, based on the openness/secrecy with which the alleged terrorist acts are performed, and whether states directly perform the acts, support them, or acquiesce in them.