Susie Dent suggests that recognizing individuals such as “snollygosters” and “mumpsimus” within our society can offer solace amid tumultuous political climates. Drawing parallels to the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, Dent emphasizes the significance of naming and thereby disempowering these entities, as she shared with Piya Chattopadhyay on the Sunday Magazine program.
In Dent’s lexicon, a “snollygoster” typically denotes a cunning yet unscrupulous politician, while “mumpsimus” describes someone who obstinately maintains their correctness despite evidence to the contrary. Dent, renowned for her appearances on the UK Channel 4 game shows Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown with Jimmy Carr, is set to release her book, Words for Life: To Boost Every Day of the Year, in March.
According to Dent, there are several forgotten terms that remain relevant and applicable as we transition into the new year. Political scientist Jamie Gillies underscores the importance of these terms, emphasizing their role in accurately describing various situations. Gillies, a public policy professor at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, contends that prevailing terms like “tyranny” and “authoritarianism” may not entirely encapsulate contemporary political realities.
Exploring the origins of the term “snollygoster,” Dent reveals its evolution from a mythical monster used to caution children into well-behaved individuals to its current definition as an unprincipled person, particularly a self-serving politician. Gillies notes the broad applicability of the term in describing politicians across different spectrums, including those in the Trump administration and Canadian floor-crossers.
Another term, “empleomania,” captures the relentless pursuit of remaining in public office at any cost, as Dent illustrates. Gillies links this term to regimes and autocrats characterized by personal enrichment, citing examples like Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
Dent believes that understanding these words can aid individuals in grappling with political complexities. By providing names for shared experiences, such as the Old English term “uhtcearu” signifying pre-dawn anxiety, people can draw strength from knowing they are not alone in their feelings. Gillies suggests that these terms, coined in past populist eras, offer insights into historical political landscapes and can inject humor and nuance into current discourse. He posits that reintroducing such terminology could lead to more engaging and accurate discussions about ongoing events.