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Meaning of patrimonialism in English:

patrimonialism

Pronunciation /ˌpatrɪˈməʊnɪəlɪz(ə)m/

noun

Anthropology Sociology

  • A system of social organization or government in which a male leader maintains authority through individuals with loyalty to him personally.

Origin

1940s; earliest use found in Canadian Journal of Economic and Political Science. From patrimonial + -ism, after German Patrimonialismus.