ABSTENTIONISM Meaning and
Definition
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Abstentionism is a political philosophy or strategy characterized by refraining or withholding from participating in the political process or from voting in elections. It is a deliberate choice to abstain from exercising one's civic duty or right to cast a ballot. Typically, abstentionism is driven by a fundamental skepticism or disillusionment with the existing political system, where individuals may reject the available political options as unsatisfactory or inadequate.
Abstentionism can manifest as a form of political protest, as individuals believe that their voice cannot be effectively expressed through the conventional channels of representative democracy. This philosophy often emerges from a belief that voting does not result in meaningful change or that the political parties and candidates are not aligned with one's principles or interests.
By abstaining from participating in elections, adherents of abstentionism seek to convey their dissatisfaction with the political establishment and highlight the necessity for systemic reforms or alternative approaches to governance. Some proponents argue that abstentionism is a way to delegitimize the current political system and signal the need for more inclusive, participatory, or transformative modes of political engagement.
It is important to note that abstentionism is distinct from apathy or political disinterest where individuals lack the motivation or engagement to vote. Abstentionists actively reject the existing political options and may advocate for alternative forms of political activity, such as direct action, grassroots organizing, or the establishment of new political parties or movements.
Common Misspellings for ABSTENTIONISM
- zbstentionism
- sbstentionism
- wbstentionism
- qbstentionism
- avstentionism
- anstentionism
- ahstentionism
- agstentionism
- abatentionism
- abztentionism
- abxtentionism
- abdtentionism
- abetentionism
- abwtentionism
- absrentionism
- absfentionism
- absgentionism
- absyentionism
- abs6entionism
- abs5entionism
Etymology of ABSTENTIONISM
The word "abstentionism" originated from the noun "abstention", which dates back to the early 17th century. "Abstention" is derived from the Old French word "abstenir", which means "to abstain" or "to refrain". This Old French word is composed of two elements: "ab", meaning "away" or "from", and "tenir", meaning "to hold". Therefore, "abstention" implies the act of holding oneself away or refraining from something.
The suffix "-ism" is then added to "abstention" to form "abstentionism". Adding this suffix to a word often indicates the concept, doctrine, practice, or philosophy associated with the base word. In the case of "abstentionism", it refers to the political doctrine or practice of abstaining from participating or voting in elections, typically by a specific group or party.
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