Irregular warfare (IW) is a commonly misunderstood and misused term that relates to the violent struggle among state and non-state actors for popular legitimacy, influence and control. It often takes the form of insurgency or terrorism, but does not necessarily manifest itself as such in all cases. For example, stability operations conducted in the aftermath of an interstate armed conflict are a form of irregular warfare, since they necessarily involve the promotion of government control and the likely use of armed force to confront challenges to that control.