Establishment-driven

Characterizing actions, policies, or perspectives primarily influenced or controlled by the established power structure, institutions, and dominant social order within a society. It suggests an alignment with, or furtherance of, the interests and values of the ruling elite, often prioritizing stability, tradition, and the status quo. The term implies a potential resistance to change, reform, or challenges to the established norms, and can be used to critique the motives or impacts of institutions, policies, or individuals.

Establishment-driven meaning with examples

• The government's economic policies, considered establishment-driven, favored large corporations and maintained tax structures advantageous to the wealthy, sparking public criticism. Critics argued that these policies exacerbated income inequality and neglected the needs of the working class. This approach reinforced the existing power dynamics within the financial sector. The resulting financial benefits failed to trickle down to the lower classes resulting in growing social discontent.
• The mainstream media, in covering the election, provided establishment-driven narratives, often downplaying the views of third-party candidates and focusing heavily on the established parties and their platforms. This emphasis created a bias toward maintaining the existing political order. The choice of commentators and the focus of interviews all further cemented the dominance of the established parties, which frustrated some voters looking for alternatives.
• The university's curriculum, viewed as establishment-driven, continued to emphasize canonical texts and traditional disciplines, with limited offerings in contemporary or interdisciplinary studies, while ignoring current and historical systemic biases in its curriculum. This choice preserved the established academic hierarchies and structures. This led to an outdated understanding of the evolving social and political contexts among its graduates, hampering their ability to innovate.
• Many art galleries, exhibiting established-driven art, showcased works from well-known artists, largely ignoring the works of emerging artists or those from marginalized communities. This decision was made to appeal to the established art market and wealthy collectors. It reinforced the prevailing art world elite's influence while limiting the diversity of artistic expression. This approach limited exposure to diverse voices.
• The legal system, in addressing cases, was accused of being establishment-driven, often favoring established institutions or powerful individuals over ordinary citizens. This system led to distrust of the legal proceedings. These decisions appeared to maintain existing societal power imbalances, highlighting concerns about fairness and equal access to justice. This created feelings of alienation from the judicial process.