technocrats
Governance by specialists
Technocrats are experts—typically in science, engineering, economics, or technology—who hold positions of political or administrative power.
The term implies governance by technical competence rather than democratic mandate or ideological vision.
It can be neutral or critical: The EU appointed technocrats to manage the debt crisis suggests capable management, while unelected technocrats suggests democratic deficit.
Technocracy is rule by such experts.
Administrative government employees
- policymakersOfficials who create rules
- administratorsPeople overseeing operations
- mandarinsEasy-peel citrus fruits
- officialsThose holding formal power
regulators · apparatchiks · planners · functionaries · wonks · statecraft · legislation · policy
Technical problem solvers
- scientistsSystematic knowledge seekers
- economistsAnalysts of wealth distribution
- analystsThose who dissect data
- researchersThose who study systematically
specialists · consultants · advisors · professionals · academics · practitioners · technicians · proficiency
Advancement through demonstrated ability
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
- powerbrokersThose controlling political outcomes
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- insidersThose with special access
gatekeepers · decision-makers · unelected · privileged · plutocrats · oligarchs · ivory-tower · detached
Maximizing efficiency or performance
- streamliningMaking more aerodynamic or efficient
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
- modernizationAdoption of current methods
- automationSelf-operating system design
metrics · benchmarking · performance · cost-benefit · scalability · algorithmic · data-driven · precision
bureaucrats
Administrative government employees
- policymakersOfficials who create rules
- administratorsPeople overseeing operations
- mandarinsEasy-peel citrus fruits
officials · regulators · apparatchiks · planners · functionaries · wonks · statecraft · legislation · policy · administration
engineers
Technical problem solvers
- scientistsSystematic knowledge seekers
- economistsAnalysts of wealth distribution
- analystsThose who dissect data
researchers · specialists · consultants · advisors · professionals · academics · practitioners · technicians · proficiency · methodology
meritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
- powerbrokersThose controlling political outcomes
- influentialHaving considerable effect
insiders · gatekeepers · decision-makers · unelected · privileged · plutocrats · oligarchs · ivory-tower · detached
optimization
Maximizing efficiency or performance
- streamliningMaking more aerodynamic or efficient
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
- modernizationAdoption of current methods
automation · metrics · benchmarking · performance · cost-benefit · scalability · algorithmic · data-driven · precision · systematization
- expertsexperts, expert, specialist, masters, specialists
- authoritiesrulers, ruler, leaders, leader, officials
- eliteelite, elites, aristocrats, nobility, best
- eliteselites, plutocrats, oligarchs, aristocrats, blue bloods
- leadersleader, boss, leaders, bosses, chiefs
- social classesupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, nobles
technocratspopulists
Champions of ordinary citizens
demagogues · elected representatives · grassroots leaders · hereditary rulers · monarchs
technocratsideologues
Adherents of fixed doctrines
zealots · dogmatists · true believers · partisans · idealists
technocratsmen of the people
Politicians representing common citizens
grassroots activists · common people · ordinary citizens · the masses · laypeople