(Originally in Japan) a political situation or system in which a politician will promote the interests of a particular interest group in return for financial support.
Origin
1970s; earliest use found in Newsweek. After Japanese kinken seiji, lit. ‘money-power politics’ from kin- gold, money + -ken power + seiji politics.
Definition of money politics in US English:
money politics
noun
(Originally in Japan) a political situation or system in which a politician will promote the interests of a particular interest group in return for financial support.
Origin
1970s; earliest use found in Newsweek. After Japanese kinken seiji, lit. ‘money-power politics’ from kin- gold, money + -ken power + seiji politics.