power politics

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. political action characterized by the exercise or pursuit of power as a means of coercion.

2. international diplomacy based on the use or threatened use of military or economic power.

power politics

noun

1. (functioning as singular) (in international affairs) the threat or use of force as an instrument of national policy

Word History and Origins

Origin of power politics¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

But these are times now of big power politics.

From BBC

And the vision of brutal power politics, hegemonic power, trampling on the weak, trampling on your foes, I find very distasteful.

From Salon

Slow of speech, Fiennes’ Macbeth gives us a clue as to what Hamlet might be like if he had survived and learned to play the deadly game of power politics.

From Los Angeles Times

Subianto bristles at international criticism over human rights and other topics, but he’s expected to keep the country’s pragmatic approach to power politics.

From Seattle Times

“The ‘rules-based international order’ championed by the U.S. is in fact another version of power politics,” the report said.

From Washington Times