State Crime, Irregulars and Counter-Insurgency

Abstract

This article examines state crime in the area of the use of irregulars in counter-insurgency. Irregulars are defined as local units who receive rudimentary training and act alongside more regular forces. They are also defined as more regular formal local units who act informally (and often unlawfully) as part of their counter-insurgency role (e.g. death squads). The article examines the important role that such irregulars have played in counter-insurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan and highlights the human rights violations that their use has encouraged. This area is an important area for future research.