(はばつあらそ)

はばつあらそい
noun
factional strife; factional infighting
1. factional strife; factional infighting; power struggle between factions
Competition and conflict between factions or cliques within an organization, especially a political party. A central concept in understanding Japanese politics, where factions within the ruling party have historically wielded significant influence.
派閥争(はばつあらそ)いが激化(げきか)している。
Factional infighting is intensifying.
党内(とうない)派閥争(はばつあらそ)いが政策(せいさく)決定(けってい)(おく)らせた。
Factional strife within the party delayed policy decisions.
総裁選(そうさいせん)(まえ)に、(かく)派閥(はばつ)派閥争(はばつあらそ)いが表面化(ひょうめんか)してきた。
Ahead of the party leadership election, factional rivalries have come to the surface.

Compound of 派閥(はばつ) ('faction; clique') and (あらそ)い ('conflict; struggle'). A term deeply associated with Japanese politics, where the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has historically been divided into influential factions that compete for leadership positions and policy influence.

USAGE:

  • Most commonly encountered in political reporting and analysis
  • Can also apply to corporate or organizational infighting, though 権力(けんりょく)闘争(とうそう) is more common in those contexts
  • Carries a negative connotation, implying that personal ambition overrides policy concerns

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 派閥争(はばつあらそ)いに()()まれる: to be drawn into factional infighting
  • 派閥争(はばつあらそ)いが激化(げきか)する: factional strife intensifies
  • 派閥争(はばつあらそ)いを()(ひろ)げる: to engage in factional rivalry
  • 党内(とうない)派閥争(はばつあらそ)い: intra-party factional strife

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 権力闘争(けんりょくとうそう): power struggle — broader, not limited to factions; any contest for control
  • 内紛(ないふん): internal strife; discord — conflict within any group, not specifically factional
  • 主導権争い(しゅどうけんあらそい): struggle for leadership; initiative — focuses on who takes the lead rather than faction-based conflict