After more than 20 years of research, it is well established that states used counter-terrorism measures (CTMs) to close civic spaces for civil society under the pretext of curbing terrorism. However, the specific mechanisms by which these occur, or the responses of civil society organizations (CSOs), remain hard to grasp. Furthermore, scholars are yet to fully understand the motivations for states’ repression of CSOs, including whether it is possible that states overreacted to terrorism threats and responded sincerely but disproportionately or that they have another agenda. Do some countries that do not face genuine threats cynically follow others? How do we measure the unintended consequences for CSOs, including those engaged in non-politically sensitive issues? Furthermore, while CSOs have either resisted, remained silent, or complied with CTMs by moving away from political activism, how does state implementation of CTMs lead CSOs to change their structures, spaces, and actors as adaption strategies, and what are the long-term consequences for democracy, rights and accountability? What drives some CSOs to adopt one set of responses while others choose a different approach? The present article presents the first systematic literature review of 83 relevant sources. In doing so, key themes on the tactics of states and the responses of CSOs are examined. From this, we conclude and make suggestions for future research.