neo-medievalism
|neo-medieval-ism|
🇺🇸
/ˌniː.oʊˌmɪˈdiːvəlɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌniː.əʊˌmɪˈdiːvəlɪzəm/
new return or resemblance to medieval patterns
Etymology
'neo-medievalism' originates from modern English, formed by the prefix 'neo-' (from Greek 'neos' meaning 'new') attached to 'medievalism' (the noun built from 'medieval' + '-ism').
'medieval' comes from Late Latin 'mediaevus'/'mediaevalis' (from Latin 'medius' 'middle' + 'aevum' 'age'), which passed into Old French and Middle English as 'medieval'/'mediaeval'; the noun-forming suffix '-ism' produced 'medievalism' (the interest in or revival of medieval forms), and in the 20th century English coinage combined 'neo-' with 'medievalism' to make 'neo-medievalism'.
Initially related to revival or interest in medieval ideas or aesthetics ('a new medievalism' as a cultural revival), the term later acquired a technical usage in political theory/IR to describe modern patterns of overlapping or fragmented authority reminiscent of medieval polities.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in political theory and international relations: a condition or model in which sovereignty and authority are fragmented or shared among multiple overlapping actors (states, corporations, international organizations, non-state groups), resembling aspects of medieval political order rather than the centralized Westphalian nation-state.
Some scholars argue that globalization has produced a form of neo-medievalism in which authority is shared among states, corporations, and international organizations.
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Noun 2
in cultural studies, art, and popular culture: a revival, fascination with, or aesthetic movement drawing on medieval themes, imagery, practices, or values, often blended with modern or futuristic elements.
The festival's costumes and music reflect a kind of neo-medievalism, mixing historically inspired garments with contemporary stage effects.
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Last updated: 2025/11/05 00:46