A rogue state is a term used, primarily in U.S. foreign policy discourse, to describe a country that is perceived as threatening international peace and stability due to its defiance of international norms, pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, sponsorship of terrorism, or authoritarian governance. The label is politically charged and often used to justify sanctions, isolation, or even military intervention. It has been criticized for being subjective and selectively applied.

• Litwak, R. S. (2000). Rogue states and U.S. foreign policy: Containment after the Cold War. Woodrow Wilson Center Press.