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There was a following statement in Time magazine’s article (February 25) titled “Second Act” dealing with the step-down of the former Pope Benedict XVI:

The new Pope will be indebted to Benedict XVI. -- and even though he won't be in the Sistine Chapel when the voting takes place, Benedict is bound to influence the outcome. This sort of informal influence has proved powerful in other cultures--particularly premodern Japan, where retired shoguns and Emperors continued to make pivotal decisions. Thus, just by watching from the sidelines, Ratzinger will be subtly able to champion his conservative theological and social policies--an über-Pope of sorts.

This statement is true. Actually many incumbent Emperors were just nominal and powerless in Japan during the Middle Ages and controlled by retired emperors behind the curtain.

We call this “informal influence“ of the retired ruler or leader including chairman of a company ‘Insei – 院政 in Japanese, and ‘Readers English Japanese Dictionary’ at hand translates ‘Insei’ to ‘rule by a retired emperor – insei.”

Although Readers Dictionary shows the word “Insei,” as if it is already adopted to English language like 'Mikado' or ‘Shogun,’ I doubt its currency as an English word.

With that said, what is the English counterpart of “Insei” in shorter form, say two words, than “rule by a cloistered emperor”?

Yoichi Oishi
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    Power behind the throne; eminence grise – St John of the Cross Apr 01 '13 at 11:12
  • @StJohnoftheCross: as close as that is, doesn't that refer to a non-ruler, say a regent or important civil servant unlikely to actually be such a nominal ruler, as opposed to a former ruler? – Mitch Apr 01 '13 at 13:18
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    @Mitch That's why it's a comment; but a former ruler is at least nominally a non-ruler. English doesn't have a direct equivalent for insei because "rule by a retired monarch" is rather rare: most cause succession by dying! However, a retired/deselected prime minister could well still be the power behind his successor's throne. – St John of the Cross Apr 01 '13 at 13:27
  • "Emeritus" is informally used with that meaning. You could refer to Benedict as the "Pope emeritus." I think the proper use of the term applies only to faculty of educational institutions, though. –  Apr 01 '13 at 13:48
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    The Vatican has, in fact, decreed that Benedict is to be titled "pope emeritus" or "emeritus pope". That's not terribly relevant to this question, though. What Yoichi-san seems to want is a counterpart to regency, except on the other end of a reign. The problem is, the historical English term for a former king is "dead". – Marthaª Apr 01 '13 at 14:23
  • Didn't one abdicate? – Edwin Ashworth Apr 01 '13 at 18:26
  • @Yoichi, Does the Japanese term have a sinister component, or is it more titular? – rajah9 Apr 01 '13 at 19:14
  • The word, Insei has a negative tone to us, because the puppet government or management doesn’t function well. In the Middle Ages, there were succession of incumbent Emperors being ruled by former (retired) emperors in Japan which resulted in chaos of politics and governance and misery of populace. Insei still applies to Japanese corporation today. Ex-presidents try to influence on Presidents by keeping power even after being shelved up to Chairman, which causes internal feuding very often. – Yoichi Oishi Apr 01 '13 at 23:14
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    It will be very difficult, if not impossible, to come up with a satisfactory answer to this question because it is very likely that an "English counterpart of 'Insei' in shorter form, say two words," does not in fact exist; and if this is so, it is because we in the West have not really had any need for such a term, since such a phenomenon as @Yoichi Oishi describes has been absent, or very nearly so, from our history. I think that Diocletian at Spalato and Charles V at Yuste are as close as we may approach, and it is not quite certain that they actually "ruled" while in retirement. – Animadversor Apr 02 '13 at 23:28
  • This doesn't really help come up with a word, but perhaps there was a Russian insei in the form of Putin while Medvedev was president from 2008-2012? – alcas Apr 03 '13 at 03:23
  • As for the actual question, it seems to me that this is a case where no concise expression exists in English, and we should just borrow the Japanese insei. – alcas Apr 03 '13 at 03:24

3 Answers3

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Perhaps you want “elder statesman”, sometimes used to refer to a retired politician (especially one whom the current leaders consult).

Scott - Слава Україні
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Instead of a single word, there is an adjective that refers to the idea of "ex-ruler" and a phrase that refers to an insidious control.

First, the notion of ex-ruler:

emeritus

has a Latin etymology, and incidentally became the official title for the retired pope.

The most common usage is in professor emeritus, who although retired, may bring considerable influence to bear, but is relieved of his more public duties (such as lecturing).

(Props to St John of the Cross.) The phrase

éminence grise

historically does not refer to an ex-ruler (Wikipedia), but carries the connotation of an insidious control.

rajah9
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  • Hi Rajah. I don't see how this answers the question. Yoichi-san wasn't asking what Benedict will be called, but what the English term is for retired kings who advise the current king. – Marthaª Apr 01 '13 at 14:19
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    The title "Pope Emeritus" was announced on February 26 and is a matter of record. Emeritus simply means "retired". This doesn't answer the question, though, which is about a rule by influence; almost a clandestine affair. – St John of the Cross Apr 01 '13 at 14:21
  • I think one difference is that in Europe, kings have never officially retired. – Peter Shor Apr 01 '13 at 15:35
  • @PeterShor Well, Edward VIII did; and several Queens of the Netherlands have too. But constitutional monarchies have more safeguards against eminences grises than absolute monarchies. – St John of the Cross Apr 01 '13 at 15:49
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    Thanks you for the comments. While I understand the reasons for the downvote, emeritus is a neutral title that conveys both the notions of being relieved of duty, yet retaining influence. Of note is that this was indeed the announced title (thanks, @StJohnoftheCross, I did not know that). The OP said in comments that insei has a sinister connotation, but emeritus does not connote that. I'm thinking éminence grise is closer. Perhaps St John of the Cross should proffer it as an answer, instead of as a comment? – rajah9 Apr 02 '13 at 13:35
  • I believe I have also seen grey eminence (the literal translation of eminence grise) used for this. – Peter Shor Apr 02 '13 at 15:09
  • ‘Eminence-grise’ might be close to Insei in terms of someone influencing on or manipulating the incumbent Emperor or King from the behind-the-scenes. But from its origin as the nickname of Père Joseph, French monk and diplomat, confidant of Cardinal Richelieu who was known as Éminence Rouge; eminence grise’ was a subordinate to the Cardinal, while the wielder of Insei is the ex-emperor who actually held and still holds power. Can ‘Eminence-grise’ be used for an ex-supremacy, not his follower? – Yoichi Oishi Apr 03 '13 at 04:54
  • @YoichiOishi, it seems as though insei would be split between the two terms. If you are referring to ex-supremacy, then emeritus works better. If you are referring to the insidious, manipulative qualities, then éminence grise works better. But I don't think that one English word encompasses both. – rajah9 Apr 03 '13 at 12:45
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Perhaps the closest equivalent is puppet government:

a government which is endowed with the outward symbols of authority but in which direction and control are exercised by another power [M-W Unabridged]

If you wanted to coin a term, you could call it a puppetocracy.

Gnawme
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  • A puppet is an object manipulated by a puppeteer, who could be liken to a retired Emperor or leader.To me, puppet government seems to be the object or the opposite word to 'Insei' rather than its equvalent.. – Yoichi Oishi Apr 01 '13 at 21:46
  • It follows from this definition of puppet: "one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence" [M-W] – Gnawme Apr 01 '13 at 22:10
  • BTW, Google Translate renders 院政 in English as "cloister government." – Gnawme Apr 01 '13 at 23:50