LONDON – In a move that has stirred controversy among regular readers, a renowned news and international affairs publication has unearthed an unusual, yet clever term.
The Economist magazine, known for its inventive titles and sharp wit, used the term in the title ‘The Polynesian Independence Gambit’ to describe pro-independence movement leader Oscar Temaru’s efforts for further autonomy for the islanders.
“We know that we could not spare that term loosely” said editor-in-chief of the magazine, John Micklethwait. “However, the editorial board had already exhausted the terms ‘ploy’ for sports betting in Cuba, ‘jig’ to describe Japan’s privatization of the post service and ‘maneuver’ to illustrate a group of Columbian draft dodgers forming a political movement in the province of Bajo Cauca Antioquia.”
The bold term, which has never been previously used before by the magazine, brought disapproval from some readers in the Letters section:
SIR – I was aghast to see the use of the term “gambit” to describe the indigenous Kanak’s attempt to dispose the perpetual bondage of New Caledonia’s domestic affairs to France’s department of Territoire d’outre-mer. The term “artifice” would have sufficed.
Jack Gaskell
Oxford
Others sided with the word choice of the publication:
SIR – I found much to agree with your use of the term ‘gambit’ to characterize Temaru’s efforts at self-determination. Challenges still remain about the terms ‘stratagem’ and ‘ruse.’
Professor Baulio Boutros Dias Sanchez
UN Secretariat to the Convention on Cocoa
Nairobi
Despite the quarrel, political science students everywhere read the article and pretended that it had significant meaning in their life.
