Pro-government militias are armed groups that are connected to the government but distinct from its regular security forces.

This guidebook uses a wide range of sources to catalogue pro-government militias (PGMs). These groups can be found in many countries across the globe and are not confined to civil wars or authoritarian regimes. The guidebook provides information on their key characteristics, including how the militias were created and terminated, why the government collaborates with them, and where they draw their members from.