Cliquism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A tendency for social groups to form exclusive subgroups that exclude others based on shared interests or characteristics; promoting a cycle of favoritism within such groups; fostering division by prioritizing loyalty to the in-group over broader community interaction
2. The practice of engaging in social behavior that emphasizes belonging to certain cliques while marginalizing those outside of them; reinforcing hierarchies through selective inclusion; creating interpersonal barriers that limit diverse interactions
3. A phenomenon where individuals within a peer group reinforce their bonds through exclusionary practices that favor insiders; nurturing a sense of superiority among members; encouraging a disconnect from wider social engagement

Etymology: "Cliquism" is a plain formation: the noun "clique" with the suffix "-ism," which turns a noun into a name for a practice, belief, or system. "Clique" itself came into English from French in the 1700s, borrowed from the French word for a noisy gang or set, and it was often used with a disparaging edge from the start. Adding "-ism" gives the word its sense of a practice rather than a group of people, so "cliquism" names the behavior of forming and guarding exclusive circles. The suffix is the same one found in words like "favoritism" and "nepotism," which likewise name a pattern of conduct based on who is let in. Used this way, the word describes the mechanism as much as the group: the sorting of people into insiders and outsiders, and the way that sorting hardens into a social hierarchy.

Synonyms: exclusivity, insularity

Antonyms: openness, inclusivity