technocracies
Rule by specialists
Technocracies is the plural of technocracy—a system of government or management where decisions are made by technical experts rather than elected officials or traditional politicians.
Engineers, scientists, and specialists hold power based on their expertise: Critics warned that technocracies ignore the values and preferences of ordinary citizens.
The term often carries skeptical overtones, suggesting rule by unaccountable elites.
Highly skilled practitioners
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- meritocracyAdvancement through demonstrated ability
- oligarchyRule by few
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
centralization · planning · policy · decision-making · authority · institutions · ministries · agencies
Overvaluing empirical methods alone
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- positivismPhilosophy demanding verifiable evidence
- modernismFavoring contemporary approaches
- progressivismPhilosophy advocating societal reform
efficiency · optimization · expertise · objectivity · evidence-based · data-driven · utilitarianism · instrumentalism
Preference for privileged rule
- exclusivityState of being limited
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- depoliticizationRemoval of partisan character
- alienationState of being isolated
paternalism · unaccountability · hegemony · stratification · ivory-tower · disconnection · hubris · opacity
Southeast Asian city-state
- ChinaEast Asian superpower
- IMFGlobal economic assistance organization
- think-tanksExpert advisory organizations
experts
Highly skilled practitioners
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- meritocracyAdvancement through demonstrated ability
- oligarchyRule by few
hierarchy · centralization · planning · policy · decision-making · authority · institutions · ministries · agencies · committees
scientism
Overvaluing empirical methods alone
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- positivismPhilosophy demanding verifiable evidence
- modernismFavoring contemporary approaches
progressivism · efficiency · optimization · expertise · objectivity · evidence-based · data-driven · utilitarianism · instrumentalism · futurism
elitism
Preference for privileged rule
- exclusivityState of being limited
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- depoliticizationRemoval of partisan character
alienation · paternalism · unaccountability · hegemony · stratification · ivory-tower · disconnection · hubris · opacity · legitimacy
Singapore
Southeast Asian city-state
- ChinaEast Asian superpower
- IMFGlobal economic assistance organization
- think-tanksExpert advisory organizations
technocraciesdemocracies
Governments elected by people
theocracies · monarchies · aristocracies · mob rule · kleptocracies
technocraciespopulism
Politics favoring ordinary citizens
anti-intellectualism · traditionalism · demagoguery · cult of personality
democracy, technique, technical, technology, technician, aristocracy, bureaucracy, autocracy, technicality