obstructionism

American  

[uhb-struhk-shuhn-iz-uhm] / əbˈstrʌk ʃənˌɪz əm /

noun

1. the practice of delaying or obstructing the business of a governing body by means of procedural contrivances or maneuvers, the raising of irrelevant questions, etc.

2. the attitude or actions of someone who seeks to obstruct progress.

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Explanation

Obstructionism is when someone deliberately slows down a process, especially in politics or the law. In several countries, legislators sometimes engage in obstructionism when they walk very, very slowly to a podium to cast their votes. One of the most well-known tools of political obstructionism is the filibuster, which can be employed responsibly but is often used simply to delay or even prevent voting on a controversial bill. When a US Senator filibusters, they extend the debate on a bill by talking for a very long time, a process that's sometimes called "talking a bill to death." Obstructionism comes from obstruction, or "barrier," from the Latin obstruere, "block or hinder."

Example Sentences

He told reporters he favoured more exchanges and dialogue over obstructionism and conflict, and called for peace and stability with Beijing.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2024

Finally, we looked at the sorts of arguments that were being made, following a useful taxonomy of climate scepticism or obstructionism published in the journal Nature in 2021.

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2023

"These two members' blatant obstructionism puts the Northeast Asian region, and entire world, at risk," she told a Security Council meeting.

From Reuters • Nov. 21, 2022

The jury also heard from 38 pledges but noted they found elements of obstructionism surrounding the case.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 16, 2018

What drove Kennedy was a hatred of small-mindedness, ignorance, obstructionism, and intimidation—which, in his view, were displayed by no organization more proudly than the Ku Klux Klan.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt