Martial law is a state of affairs declared by a civilian government in which the military forces are empowered to rule, govern and control an area, which can be a small locality or the entire nation, in a way involving direct force, and without the usual constraints of democratic decision-making or the acceptance of civil rights. It is always seen as a temporary state of affairs and, unlike a military regime, has legitimacy, because it has been decided upon and granted by the civilian government.
Martial law is, without doubt, both draconian and unpopular; there have been no instances of martial law being declared in a major Western democracy since the Second World War, though Poland was subjected to martial law in 1981–83. It can only be either useful or acceptable given the complete breakdown of law and order—a situation where the civilian government authorizing it has probably lost all legitimacy anyway. In international law the term refers to the rule of a military commander over a foreign, typically colonial, territory.
This is the complete article, containing 173 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
