palace politics
- noun
- /ˈpælɪs ˈpɒlɪtɪks/
- Literature
:
política de palacio
- The company's boardroom is often filled with palace politics, as leaders vie for control over important decisions.
Examples
-
Navigating palace politics can be challenging for new executives trying to establish their authority.
-
The private sector, growing up in the shadow of the state (and thanks to the public sector), certainly has an interest in gaining freedom of economic action, more access to credit and fiscal facilities, and the freedom of cross-border traffic. But why should it have to undertake open political action when it can try to obtain all this at less cost to itself by remaining entrenched in bureaucratic or palace politics where the informal network of family, regional, and factional solidarity is at the heart of the game?
Academic text (1992) -
In government, palace politics can influence which policies are prioritized and which are ignored.
Synonyms
777
3.5
Actions people use in a group to gain power or advantage
4
4.3
Actions people use at work to get power or advantage
Antonyms
How Political
- Literature
4
4.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense of internal maneuvering is directly derivable from combining 'palace' (seat of power/elite court) with 'politics' (maneuvering for influence); together they naturally mean politics that happen within the palace/inner circle. This noun‑noun composition follows a common, cross‑linguistic pattern (cf. 'court politics', 'palace intrigue'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Palace politics comes from life in a royal palace, where politics meant secret plans and rival groups trying to win the ruler's favour. That's why palace politics now means 'quiet fights for power or influence' inside any organization.