Rogue state is a controversial term applied by some international theorists to states they consider threatening to the world's peace. This means meeting certain criteria, such as being ruled by
authoritarian regimes that severely restrict
human rights, sponsor
terrorism, and seek to proliferate
weapons of mass destruction. The term is used most by the
United States, though the US State Department officially quit using the term in 2000. However, it has been applied by other countries as well.