praetorianism
- noun
- /ˌpriːtəˈɔːriənɪzəm/
- Specialized
:
praetorianismo
- In countries where praetorianism is prevalent, the military often interferes in political decisions.
- military praetorianism
Examples
-
In the first three decades following the end of WWII, a substantial number of Third World countries experienced military intervention or praetorianism, i.e., "a situation in which military officers are major or predominant actors by virtue of their actual or threatened use of force."
Academic text (1997) -
In a continent known for rampant praetorianism, states that have managed to remain coup-free are indeed a distinct minority.
Academic text (2002) -
In a changing society, the danger of praetorianism is omnipresent.
Academic text (1999) -
As a consequence, the problematic elements of the relationship between armed forces and domestic politics have been different from those that the concept of military praetorianism might suggest.
Academic text (2002) -
The return of Praetorianism, that is, corrupt military despotism, is an unmentionable fact in many African countries.
Blog text (10) -
How could the new Mexican army have developed such strong traditions of predatory praetorianism and militarism?
Academic text (1990) -
The praetorianism of the post-independence decades represented a defense of positions won in the independence wars rather than a particular desire to expand the military sphere.
Academic text (1990) -
Knowing no other political arrangement than praetorianism, Paraguayans under Stroessner had no expectations of a more balanced polity.
Academic text (1992) -
This article examines the origins of Mexican praetorianism and analyzes the forces that molded military attitudes over the decade of war that led to independence.
Academic text (1990) -
Although the army of New Spain exhibited few, if any, signs of praetorianism or militarism prior to the independence wars, 1810-1821, many observers in the decades following national independence described the military as one of the negative impediments to progress in the young Mexican republic.
Academic text (1990)
Synonyms
7
5.6
The army rules a country after it takes power
A government where the military controls the country
How Military-Controlled
- Literature
4
8.5
- Formal
7
5.6
- Specialized
505
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
praetorianism = praetorian (opaque) = praetorian + ism
Formed by adding the productive suffix '-ism' to 'praetorian', which is a regular derivation though it requires knowledge of the historical/political referent.
Etymology
The word praetorianism comes from the Roman title praetor meaning 'leader' and from the famous Praetorian Guard, the emperor's soldiers who often controlled the ruler. So, praetorianism means a system where the army controls or strongly influences the government.