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statism

statism

8 9.1
A political belief that the government controls most public life and the economy
  • noun
  • /ˈsteɪtɪzəm/
  • Formal
translation icon : estatismo
  • Many countries struggle with statism, where the government exerts significant control over the economy.
  • welfare statism

Examples

  • Ideologically and historically, they are predisposed towards statism as the means of alleviating economic issues.

    Blog text (9)
  • The whole Byzantine, convoluted control system is statism at its worst.

  • For instance, it cannot prevent statism, nor does it explain the connection between the lack of accountability and economic failure.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Thus, while Turkey was moving away from statism, the effort was simultaneously encouraging corruption.

    Academic text (2000)
  • With these three death blows, statism expired and markets became ascendant.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Both left and right have nasty strains of statism, which is why I am libertarian.

    Blog text (10)
  • During the statism period of the 1970s and 1980s, Mexico's industrial property laws were extremely protectionist.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Zimbabwe's experience shows the limits of statism as a method to uplift a disadvantaged majority.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Rent seeking also means statism is pervasive, and this has equally deleterious implications for democratization.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The combination of economic statism and patrimonial governance has engendered cooptation and dependence on the part of indigenous entrepreneurs.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

centralism
vsstatism
1 7.5

A system that puts most political power in one government

focuses instead on centralized control specifically of social and economic life
etatism
vsstatism
9.9

A political system where the state controls much of the economy and society

is the same idea expressed by the chosen headword
policy of statism
vsstatism
9.9

Government control of industry and resources that limits private business

is broader, covering centralized control of both social and economic affairs

Antonyms

Belief that people should have as much personal freedom as possible with little government control

10 8.2

A political idea and movement that wants no government or rulers

Compounds

Government control of industry and resources that limits private business

How Statist

totalitarianism
  • Formal
19 9.3
statism
  • Formal
8 9.1
anarchism
10 8.2

Surface Forms

statism singular
statisms plural

Morphology

statism = state (semi-transparent) = state + ism

The suffix '-ism' indicates a belief or system, but the specific political context of 'statism' may not be immediately clear to all learners.

Etymology

The word statism comes from state (the government) and the ending -ism meaning 'belief' or 'system', so it names the idea that the state should have strong control over society and the economy.