Advanced Academic IELTS Words for "Politics"

populism

noun

p

o

ɑ

p

u

j

ə

l

i

ɪ

s

z

m

ə

Close

Sign in

a type of politics that purports to represent the opinions and desires of ordinary people in order to gain their support

Example

Click on words

Populism in politics refers to a movement or approach that seeks to represent the interests and voices of ordinary people, often positioning itself against established elites or institutions.

Leaders who embrace populism frequently use rhetoric that emphasizes the dichotomy between "the people" and "the elite," promising to return power to the common citizen.

totalitarianism

noun

t

o

oʊ

t

a

æ

l

i

ə

t

a

ɛ

r

ia

iə

n

i

ɪ

s

z

ə

m

the belief in and implementation of a political system where the government possesses absolute control over its citizens

bipartisan

Adjective

b

i

aɪ

p

a

ɑ

r

t

i

ɪ

s

a

ə

n

involving the cooperation or agreement of two political parties, especially those usually opposed to each other, to achieve a common goal or outcome

caucus

noun

c

k

au

ɑ

c

k

u

ə

s

a party meeting to discuss policy or select candidates

psephology

noun

p

s

e

ɛ

ph

f

o

ɑ:

l

o

ə

g

ʤ

y

i

the scientific study of elections, including the analysis of voting patterns, behavior, and electoral systems, to understand and predict political outcomes

agitprop

noun

a

æ

g

ʤ

i

ə

t

p

r

o

ɔ

p

the political propaganda, especially in the form of art, literature, or media, used to promote a particular ideology, cause, or political agenda

brinkmanship

noun

b

r

i

ɪ

n

k

m

a

ə

n

sh

ʃ

i

ɪ

p

the practice of pushing a dangerous situation or confrontation to the edge of disaster, often with the intention of achieving a specific outcome

constitutionalism

noun

c

k

o

ɑ:

n

s

t

i

ɪ

t

u

u:

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

a

ə

l

i

ɪ

s

z

ə

m

the commitment to governing in accordance with the principles and provisions specified in a constitution, promoting the rule of law and safeguarding individual rights

dog whistle

noun

/dˈɑːɡ wˈɪsəl/

Idiom

a coded message intended to be understood by a particular group while remaining unnoticed or ambiguous to others

What is the origin of the idiom "dog whistle" and when to use it?

The term "dog whistle" originally referred to a whistle used in dog training, emitting a sound only audible to dogs. Over time, it evolved to describe messages with hidden meanings. Just as only dogs can hear certain frequencies, only certain people can understand the hidden message. It is often used in discussions about politics, media, advertising, and social issues, where messages may contain subtle cues or references intended to appeal to a particular audience without explicitly stating the message.

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

geopolitics

noun

g

ʤ

eo

ioʊ

p

o

ɑ

l

i

ə

t

i

ɪ

c

k

s

the study of how geography influences global political and economic interactions

power politics

noun

/pˈaʊɚ pˈɑːlətˌɪks/

the use of political, economic, or military power to achieve and maintain influence and control on the global or national stage

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

fanaticism

noun

f

a

ə

n

a

æ

t

i

ə

c

s

i

ɪ

s

z

ə

m

the extreme political or religious beliefs often accompanied by intolerance for different views

hard right

noun

/hˈɑːɹd ɹˈaɪt/

extremely conservative or right-wing political ideologies, often associated with more radical views within the right-wing spectrum

militarism

noun

m

i

ɪ

l

i

ə

t

a

ɜ

r

i

ɪ

s

z

ə

m

the belief that a country must have a strong military force in order to seem more powerful

statism

noun

s

t

a

eɪ

t

i

ɪ

s

z

ə

m

the belief in or practice of giving a central government significant control over social and economic affairs

unilateralism

noun

u

ju

n

i

ɪ

l

a

æ

t

e

ɜ

r

a

ə

l

i

ɪ

s

z

ə

m

the practice or principle of a nation or party taking actions, making decisions, or forming alliances without seeking or considering the approval, consensus, or cooperation of others

incumbent

noun

i

ɪ

n

c

k

u

ə

m

b

e

ə

n

t

the current holder of a particular office or position, especially in politics

sedition

noun

s

e

ɪ

d

i

ɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

the act of rebellion or resistance against established authority, typically through speech or conduct

suffrage

noun

s

u

ə

ff

f

r

a

ɪ

g

ʤ

e

the right or privilege of casting a vote in public elections

siege

noun

s

ie

i

g

ʤ

e

the act of surrounding the enemy, a town, etc. and cutting off their supplies so that they would surrender

red tape

noun

/ɹˈɛd tˈeɪp/

Idiom

official procedures or rules that are unnecessary and time-consuming

What is the origin of the idiom "red tape" and when to use it?

The idiom "red tape" has its origins in 16th century England where legal documents were bound by red tape as a way of showing that they were official. This phrase is typically used to describe excessive bureaucracy or official procedures which can hinder or delay progress.

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

to promulgate

Verb

p

r

o

oʊ

m

u

ə

l

g

a

eɪ

t

e

to make a formal statement presenting a new rule, law, etc. that is going to be put into action

skirmish

noun

s

k

i

ɜ

r

m

i

ɪ

sh

ʃ

a short, political argument, particularly between rivals

absolutism

noun

a

æ

b

s

o

ə

l

u

t

i

ɪ

s

z

ə

m

the belief in a political theory that stands for giving the total power to a single person or government at all times

Congratulations! !

You learned 24 words from Talking about Politics. To improve learning and review vocabulary, start practicing.

Review

Flashcards

Spelling

Quiz