Editing State terrorism (section)

{{Short description|Acts of terrorism conducted by a state}}
{{terrorism}}

'''State terrorism''' is [[terrorism]] conducted by a [[State (polity)|state]] against its own [[citizen]]s or another state's citizens.<ref>{{cite book|author=Aust, Anthony|title=Handbook of International Law|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2010|edition=2nd|isbn=978-0-521-13349-4|page=265|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=74Zmct-7hGIC&pg=PA265|access-date=2016-01-05|archive-date=2024-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329132050/https://books.google.com/books?id=74Zmct-7hGIC&pg=PA265#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="britannica" /><ref>Selden & So, 2003: [https://books.google.com/books?id=D0icvm2EQLIC&pg=PA4 p. 4.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329132058/https://books.google.com/books?id=D0icvm2EQLIC&pg=PA4#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=2024-03-29}}</ref><ref name="Martin">{{harvnb|Martin|2006|p=111}}</ref>
It contrasts with ''[[state-sponsored terrorism]]'', in which a [[violent non-state actor]] conducts an act of terror under sponsorship of a state.

Governments accused of state terrorism may justify these actions as efforts to combat internal dissent, suppress insurgencies, or maintain national security, often framing their actions within the context of [[counterterrorism]] or [[counterinsurgency]]. Accused actions of state terrorism are normally also criticised as severe violations of human rights and international law.

Historically, governments have been accused of using state terrorism in [[#By country|various settings]]. The exact definition and scope of state terrorism remain controversial, as some scholars and governments argue that terrorism is a tool used exclusively by non-state actors, while others maintain that state-directed violence intended to terrorize civilian populations should also be classified as terrorism.<ref name="chenoweth-oxford" /><ref name="williamson-afghanistan" />