coercive authority
[/koʊˈɜrsɪv ɔːˈθɒrɪti/]
nounpl: coercive authorities
autoridade coercitiva
1. The power or right to compel obedience through force, threats, or legal penalties; governmental or institutional power that enforces compliance through coercion
The state's coercive authority allows it to enforce laws and punish violations.
A autoridade coercitiva do estado permite que ele execute as leis e puna violações.
2. In political science and sociology, the capacity of an institution or entity to impose its will through force or the threat of force rather than through persuasion or consent
The police department exercises coercive authority to maintain public order.
O departamento de polícia exerce autoridade coercitiva para manter a ordem pública.
This term is primarily used in academic, legal, and political discourse in both Brazil and the USA. It reflects Max Weber's concept of the state's monopoly on legitimate violence. In Brazil, discussions of coercive authority often relate to police reform and democratic governance. In the USA, it appears frequently in political science debates about government power and civil liberties.
Related Idioms & Phrases
exercise coercive authority
abuse of coercive authority
monopoly on coercive authority
legitimate coercive authority
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