misgovernment
Incompetent state leadership
Misgovernment is bad or incompetent governance—the failure of those in power to administer effectively or justly.
The word implies not just policy disagreement but actual mismanagement: corruption, neglect, or abuse of authority.
Decades of misgovernment left the country's infrastructure crumbling.
The colony's misgovernment sparked rebellion.
Faulty conduct of authority
- mismanagementIncompetent handling of responsibilities
- bunglingMishandling through incompetence
- blunderingActing with clumsy incompetence
- inefficiencySuboptimal use of resources
ineptitude · incapacity · ineffectuality · disorganization · amateurishness · dysfunction · waste · boondoggle
Disorder from absent authority
- disorderAbsence of organization
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
lawlessness · collapse · breakdown · disintegration · unrest · failed state · power vacuum · civil strife
Absolute one-person rule
- autocracyRule by one
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
oppression · repression · absolutism · monocracy · censorship · subjugation · suppression · domination
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- extortionObtaining through threats
cronyism · nepotism · fraud · racketeering · venality · profiteering · sleaze · money laundering
Failure to exercise care
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- disregardWillful lack of attention
- inattentionLack of focus
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
indifference · apathy · laxity · omission · nonfeasance · abandonment · unaccountability · irresponsibility
Selfish use of others
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- violationBreaking of rules
- injusticeDenial of fair treatment
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
victimization · brutality · human rights violations · extrajudicial · disenfranchisement · political prisoners · forced displacement · collective punishment
maladministration
Faulty conduct of authority
- mismanagementIncompetent handling of responsibilities
- bunglingMishandling through incompetence
- blunderingActing with clumsy incompetence
inefficiency · ineptitude · incapacity · ineffectuality · disorganization · amateurishness · dysfunction · waste · boondoggle · red tape
anarchy
Disorder from absent authority
- disorderAbsence of organization
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
upheaval · lawlessness · collapse · breakdown · disintegration · unrest · failed state · power vacuum · civil strife · fragmentation
despotism
Absolute one-person rule
- autocracyRule by one
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
authoritarianism · oppression · repression · absolutism · monocracy · censorship · subjugation · suppression · domination · coercion
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
extortion · cronyism · nepotism · fraud · racketeering · venality · profiteering · sleaze · money laundering · patronage
negligence
Failure to exercise care
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- disregardWillful lack of attention
- inattentionLack of focus
oversight · indifference · apathy · laxity · omission · nonfeasance · abandonment · unaccountability · irresponsibility · underinvestment
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- violationBreaking of rules
- injusticeDenial of fair treatment
discrimination · victimization · brutality · human rights violations · extrajudicial · disenfranchisement · political prisoners · forced displacement · collective punishment · ethnic cleansing
misgovernmentgood governance
Accountable, transparent institutional management
govern, government, governor, governing, governance, governmental, govt, ungovernable, intergovernmental