silovarch means A form of oligarch whose origin is in the security service (e.g. KGB, FSB) or law enforcement areas of government. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 83 out of 100.
Why “silovarch” is a great word
A magnate whose political and economic dominance stems specifically from a career in the military, police, or secret police. The term is a blend of Russian 'silovik' (a person from the security or military services, from 'sila' meaning 'force') and 'oligarch' (from Greek 'oligos' meaning 'few' and 'arkhein' meaning 'to rule'), coined by political scientist Daniel Treisman. Unlike the generic 'oligarch,' whose power flows from privatized industry, or the state-bound 'silovik,' whose authority is purely institutional, the silovarch is the hybrid creature that results when the commissar seizes the means of production. He is the cold gaze assessing a corporate boardroom as a tactical objective, the scent of gun oil lingering on a bespoke suit, the vast wealth accrued from the quiet, administrative redistribution of entire sectors—the state, having eaten the oligarchs, now wears their skin.
Etymology
Blend of silovik + oligarch.
noun
- A form of oligarch whose origin is in the security service (e.g. KGB, FSB) or law enforcement areas of government.“They differ from ordinary oligarchies in that silovarchs can deploy intelligence networks, state prosecutors, and armed force to intimidate or expropriate business rivals”