Coercian

Coercian is a term used in political theory and speculative fiction to denote a framework or doctrine in which political authority relies predominantly on coercive power to shape behavior. It encompasses institutions, policies, and practices designed to compel compliance through sanctions, threat of force, or punishment, rather than through persuasion, incentives, or deliberative legitimacy.

The word is a neologism formed from coercion plus the suffix -ian, mirroring other nominal forms. It does not refer to a single established doctrine but to a family of ideas that contrast with liberal or consensus-based models. In academic debates, Coercian can be used to discuss historical or hypothetical systems in which coercive instruments are central to governance or social order, and where legitimacy is derived primarily from coercive capacity rather than consent.

Key characteristics often associated with Coercian discussions include centralized control of coercive agencies, formal or informal sanctions that apply broadly, and a normative emphasis on security or order as justification for coercion. Proponents might argue that coercive power can stabilize institutions or deter disorder, while critics warn of rights abuses, legitimacy erosion, and unsustainable dynamics.

In practice, references to Coercian appear mainly in theoretical analyses, dystopian fiction, or as a term of critique to examine the dangers and limits of coercive governance. Related concepts include coercion, deterrence, compellence, and soft power.