technocracy
C1Formal, Academic, Political
Definition
Meaning
A system of government or management by technical experts.
A governing or controlling body, movement, or society in which individuals with advanced technical knowledge or expertise hold the primary decision-making power. This can extend to a philosophy or ideology advocating such a system.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term often carries a connotation of elitism and de-emphasis of democratic or popular will. It is frequently used in critiques of governance where specialised knowledge is prioritised over political representation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Slightly more common in UK discourse post-Brexit regarding EU governance.
Connotations
Generally negative in both, implying an impersonal, unaccountable rule by unelected experts. In the UK, it is often linked to the 'Brussels bureaucracy'; in the US, to the 'administrative state'.
Frequency
Low frequency in general usage, but spikes in political and sociological discourse. Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The/This/Our] + technocracy + [verb: governs, rules, decides, emerged]A + [adjective: new, rising, bureaucratic] + technocracyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The tyranny of the experts”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. Could refer to a company board dominated by engineers over marketers.
Academic
Common in political science, sociology, and history texts analysing forms of governance.
Everyday
Very rare. Mostly in political commentary.
Technical
Used precisely in political philosophy to denote a specific model of governance.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No standard verb form. Periphrastic: 'to govern as a technocracy'.
American English
- No standard verb form. Periphrastic: 'to technocratise' is non-standard and rare.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form. Periphrastic: 'in a technocratic manner'.
American English
- No standard adverb form. Periphrastic: 'with technocratic efficiency'.
adjective
British English
- The technocratic vision was increasingly questioned after the referendum.
American English
- The commission's technocratic approach failed to address public concerns.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not applicable for this C1-level word)
- Some people say the government is a technocracy.
- Critics argue that the EU is run as a technocracy, detached from ordinary voters.
- The post-war period saw the rise of a managerial technocracy that believed social problems could be engineered away.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think TECHNO (technology/expertise) + CRACY (rule/ government). Rule by tech experts.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A MACHINE (to be run efficiently by engineers).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'technocracy' as 'технократия', which is a direct cognate but may sound like a foreign political term. Ensure the concept of 'правление специалистов/экспертов' is understood.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'technology' (the tools) or 'technocrat' (the person). Using it to mean any advanced technological society, rather than a specific governing structure.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a technocracy?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically used in a critical or neutral-analytical sense. It often carries negative connotations of elitism, lack of democracy, and impersonal governance.
A meritocracy selects leaders based on ability/talent broadly defined. A technocracy is a specific type of meritocracy where the defining ability is technical or scientific expertise.
In theory, yes, if experts are elected. In practice, the term usually implies a tension with democratic principles, as it prioritises expert judgement over popular will.
A technocrat is an individual who exercises power or influence based on their technical expertise, often within a technocratic system. E.g., an unelected economist appointed as finance minister.
Collections
Part of a collection
Political Theory
C2 · 44 words · Advanced vocabulary for political science and theory.