praetorianism

[pree-tawr-ee-uh-niz-uh m, -tohr-]

noun

the control of a society by force or fraud, especially when exercised through titular officials and by a powerful minority.

Origin of praetorianism

First recorded in 1865–70; praetorian + -ism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for praetorianism

Historical Examples of praetorianism

The evil fame of the Italian cohorts has survived in the phrase “praetorianism” used to imply a venal military despotism.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6
Various
If an autocracy does not rest on the army, which leads to the chaos of praetorianism, it must rely on 'panem et circenses.'
Outspoken Essays
William Ralph Inge