anemocracy

anemocracy (a-ni-MAHK-ruh-see) - n., government by or as if by winds, government by whim.


A nonce-word coined by humorist Sydney Smith in 1808 from Ancient Greek roots anemos, wind + -cracy, adapted from Greek -kratia, government (from kratos, strength/might, from PIE root *kar-, hard):

Such is the miserable and precarious state of an anemocracy, of a people who put their trust in hurricanes, and are governed by wind.

One modern potential use I came across was "Insurgents tested the solidity of the democracy, thinking that was only an anemocracy." Substitute other bad actors for insurgents, as desired.

---L.