WorldJune 14, 2026

narco-terrorism

/ˈnɑːr.koʊˌtɛr.ə.rɪz.əm/

Definition

A form of political violence or criminal activity where drug trafficking organizations or state actors collaborate to use terror-like tactics to destabilize nations or influence governmental policy for illicit profit and power.

Etymology

The word is a 20th-century compound of 'narco-' (derived from the Greek 'narke' meaning numbness or stupor, commonly used to denote narcotics) and 'terrorism' (derived from the Latin 'terror' meaning great fear).

In the news

In the article, the term is used as part of the legal and political justification provided by the US government to characterize the actions of Nicolás Maduro and his associates, framing them as a threat to national security.

States as protectors and violators of human rights: The detention of Nicolás Maduro by the US

Read the full article ↗

Universidad de Navarra

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