PoliticsAugust 25, 2026

statist

STAY-tist

Definition

Relating to the belief that the state should control or influence the economy and social life, specifically used here to describe a political philosophy that overreaches by using government coercion to manage wealth and charity.

Etymology

Derived from the word 'state' plus the suffix '-ist,' the term originated in the mid-19th century to describe those who advocate for centralized political control of social and economic affairs.

In the news

The author uses the term to critique the opponent's tendency to turn government into a universal provider, arguing that this perspective erases necessary boundaries between individual responsibility and state authority.

OPINION: Scripture doesn't sanctify state redistribution

Read the full article ↗

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

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