third force, noun phrase

Forms:
Also with initial capitals.
Origin:
EnglishShow more Special sense of general English third force ‘a political party or parties standing between two extreme or opposing parties’ (OED).
A group (or groups) of unknown composition (and the existence of which has not been proved), thought by some to have carried out murders and other acts of violence in order to sow discord, especially among those left-wing groups mainly representing Black people, by creating the impression that these acts had been perpetrated by followers of rival groups. Also attributive, passing into adjective.
Note:
Many believe that such a force was formed by right-wing extremists who were members (or former members) of the security forces of South Africa and of the ‘homelands’; others suggest that it was formed by left-wing extremists who believed that Black people should seize power by force rather than through negotiation with the Nationalist government, which was in power when rumours of the force’s existence first arose. Some claim that the third force is still active.
1985 Probe July 27Is there a third force fanning the divisions in Port Elizabeth’s townships where..a senseless black-on-black war..is turning the clock back on the struggle?...Many are convinced that the intensified violence directed at the Azanian Peoples Organisation..and the United Democratic Front..is the work of this third force. Both groups have raised the existence of this reactionary force.
1990 H. Grange in Star 11 Sept. 2While police are probing a possible ‘third force’ instigating violence, township residents..allege that whites — wearing balaclavas with blackened faces — have been shooting randomly at people from minibuses.
1990 Weekly Mail 28 Sept.He’s done it again with his unlikely allegation that the ‘Third Force’ behind the violence on the Reef may be a group of ANC dissidents. This claim has been reiterated by President FW de Klerk, though he qualified this by saying white rightwing elements could also be the culprits.
1990 R. Ainslie in Weekly Mail 12 Oct. 3I think Nelson Mandela’s ‘Third Force’ theory makes a lot of sense.
1992 Sunday Times 26 Apr. 24The Trust Feed case has proved true, at least in this instance, the frequent accusation that the police acted, in pursuance of policy, as a ‘Third Force’ to stimulate violent conflict betwee the ANC-UDF forces and other black people.
1992 Grahamstown Voice July 3He didn’t believe there was one third force, ‘but many third forces’.
1993 Africa S. & E. July 8Small groups with a penchant for violence, assassination and ‘third-force’ type activity.
1994 Weekly Mail & Guardian 13 May 3Reservations surfaced on the Nats’ willingness to root out the ‘third force’ inside the security forces.
A group (or groups) of unknown composition (and the existence of which has not been proved), thought by some to have carried out murders and other acts of violence in order to sow discord, especially among those left-wing groups mainly representing Black people, by creating the impression that these acts had been perpetrated by followers of rival groups. Also attributive, passing into adjective.
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third-class, nounn.Thirst, nounn.
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