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MTFHammerDown t1_j9i1hm1 wrote

Why do we keep using the term czar? Des the EU actually use the term czar?

131

michael_bgood t1_j9ioj02 wrote

Yeah that's kinda like saying the EU "fuhrer of human rights" or something

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vasya349 t1_j9j3jz5 wrote

It’s just a very old shorthand term in American politics for an official who coordinates policy on a certain issue. This can be seen in how the word is the archaic spelling of tsar instead of the new one.

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Bloodsucker_ t1_j9jbsds wrote

I find it highly sarcastic and in a way insulting.

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kdmccormick t1_j9kk48w wrote

I think it's purposefully intended to have an autocratic ring to it. Wikipedia:

> Advantages cited for the creation of czar type posts include the ability to go outside of formal channels and find creative solutions for ad hoc problems, and an ability to involve a lot of government players in big issue decision-making, ultimately enabling a huge bureaucracy to begin moving in a new direction.

Maybe something like "Special Climate Overseer" would have the same effect with less historical baggage? Idk. I think in the end what's important is that people listen to them so they can fix things that the existing bureaucracy won't.

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fatbunyip t1_j9iqsa4 wrote

Because it's an English word that means exactly what this guy is - someone govt appointed who has responsibility for a certain policy area. (In addition to the other meaning of Russian nobility)

It's a news headline, so brevity is key. As opposed to saying "Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal and European Commissioner for Climate Action", you can say EU climate czar.

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Alastair_Campbell t1_j9j435g wrote

Responsibility but not absolute authority. Climate..

  • secretary

  • minister

  • envoy

  • delegate

  • consul

  • ambassador

  • plenipotentiary

  • lieutenant

..would be more appropriate.

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fatbunyip t1_j9j5tq4 wrote

From the Oxford dictionary:

Czar : an official whose job is to advise the government on policy in a particular area

It's a perfectly acceptable use of the word, and is very common. It has nothing to do with whether they have absolute authority or not.

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atvan t1_j9k23nw wrote

Most of those words means specific things in modern politics though, which is significantly more confusing. Commissioner would work since it's actually correct, but shorter headlines are better generally.

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zer1223 t1_j9ksljm wrote

But printed media sources would have really enjoyed having the word "czar" more, as this makes for nicer headlines. Easier for typesetting, can do bigger print with the same space on the paper since you have fewer letters, etc. So this seems like a holdover from the days of printed papers.

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Indocede t1_j9k15hu wrote

Well if they were more appropriate, czar would not be the common word for such a position. And for the reasons you take issue with czar, that it has other meanings, also rules out all the words you suggested, moreso given the meanings of those words tend to be rigid; whereas czar is a word that exists because of flexible which we can understand through its etymological history.

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Insighteternal t1_j9i71lm wrote

It’s origin lies in the word “Caeser,” paying homage to the ancient Roman conquerer

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MTFHammerDown t1_j9iljl8 wrote

Not what I asked, but alright

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Insighteternal t1_j9it20k wrote

Using the word “Czar” essentially gives that person a very important title that has ancient origins. It’s basically tradition

Edit: Okay folks, I get it. I made a mistake in connecting the term with modern-day titles. Put down your pitchforks already :/

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senorali t1_j9izg24 wrote

The word was not traditionally used in this way at all. For monarchs, sure. For government positions involving expertise in one particular area? That's a very modern thing.

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DrunkenOnzo t1_j9jzvhg wrote

The USA has czars as well. Usually if it’s the ruler of Russia it’ll be spelled Tzar and if it’s a government appointment to oversee a specific thing then it’s spelled czar. Typically

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zvug t1_j9ke9k7 wrote

America uses this term all the time you probably just don’t realize it because it’s slang in The Hill

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HumanStruggle8295 t1_j9iqvar wrote

Eu citizen Along up : no one ever use the term anymore for obvious reasons so I don't know why they thought it Was 1) relevant 2) a good idea.

Unless because it's Russia related they decided to use another Russian word to stay on the thematic. Which would be quite pitiful imo..

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vasya349 t1_j9j355e wrote

It’s AP news, an American paper. Czar refers to an official who coordinates policy on an issue for the government.

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Indocede t1_j9k20gc wrote

Russians have Tsars, just as Germans have Kaisers, just as many European languages have a word derived from Caesar.

Czar is a word used in English. Who are you to tell English speaking people that their word is wrong just because it sounds like another word when you probably have such a word in your language as well that you use to refer to something beyond Russian emperors?

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Inphearian t1_j9jx3lo wrote

My recollection is they brought it back under Obama but maybe that’s just when I started paying attention

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14sierra t1_j9lrbb8 wrote

Reagan created the first drug czar in the 80s not Obama. You've been watching too much fox news my friend

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Inphearian t1_j9lwkcr wrote

I candidly said that was when I started paying attention to politics. Reagan was abit before my time.

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MTFHammerDown t1_ja5mi1l wrote

Im in my 30s and I first became aware of the term under obama. I thought it was cuz people were trying to make him out to be communist or something

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