Paternalism means taking all the decisions for the people you govern, employ, or are responsible for, so that they cannot or do not have to make theirown decisions.
The government should be guided by the criteria of efficiency and not State paternalism.
...the company's reputation for paternalism.
paternalism in British English
(pəˈtɜːnəˌlɪzəm)
noun
the attitude or policy of a government or other authority that manages the affairs of a country, company, community, etc, in the manner of a father, esp in usurping individual responsibility and the liberty of choice
Derived forms
paternalist (paˈternalist)
noun, adjective
paternalistic (paˌternalˈistic)
adjective
paternalistically (paˌternalˈistically)
adverb
paternalism in American English
(pəˈtɜrnəlˌɪzəm)
noun
the principle or system of governing or controlling a country, group of employees, etc. in a manner suggesting a father's relationship with his children
Derived forms
paternalist (paˈternalist)
noun, adjective
paternalistic (paˌternalˈistic)
adjective
paternalistically (paˌternalˈistically)
adverb
Word origin
paternal + -ism
Examples of 'paternalism' in a sentence
paternalism
He had no interest in Malan, apart from an unexpected stirring of protective paternalism towards Kathryn, no interest whatsoever.
Thomas, Craig THE LAST RAVEN
Abramov, a member of this inner group, was a favoured son who owed his rapid progress to Geichenko's paternalism.