強権

• Reading: きょうけん
• Romaji: kyoken
• Kanji breakdown: 強 (kyō/tsuyoi) — strong, forceful; 権 (ken) — authority, right, power
• Pronunciation: /kʲoː.ken/

Meaning

Coercive power; strong-arm authority; power exercised forcefully without regard for individual rights or consent.

A noun describing the exercise of power through force or compulsion rather than consent or law. Often used critically to describe authoritarian governance (強権政治, strong-arm politics) or heavy-handed state action. Distinct from 権力 (power in general), 強権 specifically emphasises coercive, oppressive application. The phrase 強権を発動する (to invoke coercive power) implies an extraordinary and often illegitimate use of state force.

Examples

1. 政府は強権を発動して、抗議運動を強制的に排除した。 The government invoked coercive power to forcibly suppress the protest movement.
2. 強権的な手法で進められた開発事業に、住民は激しく反発した。 Residents fiercely opposed a development project pushed through by heavy-handed methods.
3. 民主主義が後退し、強権政治が横行する国が増えていると指摘されている。 It has been pointed out that the number of countries where democracy is in retreat and authoritarian rule runs rampant is increasing.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, government, human rights, law

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From 強 (strong/forceful) and 権 (authority/power). A term used in political science and journalism to describe rule by force rather than by consent, implying a suppression of rights in the exercise of authority.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal