camarilla examples

Question

Is it possible that this is part of the problem? Often it feels there is a 'camarilla' here - people looking after each other, instead of looking with fresh eyes, at how things appear to those outside their group.

I had never heard the word camarilla before, and when I looked it up I found this:

Conjunto de personas que influyen en los asuntos del Estado y, por ext., en otras cosas

I believe that this means (and correct me if I am wrong)

A group of people that influence State negotiations and, by extension, other things (i.e. spheres of influence)

Would this be similar to the President's appointed cabinet members (Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, etc) in the United States or would it be more akin to special interest groups

Or if you are not familiar with U.S. political structure, could you give me a real world example of a camarilla from your own country.

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi Izanoni

I believe the word was used in this instance to mean a "clique", a small exclusive group of people who stick together. I maybe wrong but that was my interpretation.

Thank you Eddy - Izanoni1, SEP 2, 2009

Answer 2

You are correct. That is the meaning of "camarilla" and it could exist in any type of organization, group, etc.

Camarilla: grupo de conspiradores, grupo no oficial (a veces que urde intrigas) asesor de una persona de poder

Thanks Carlos - Izanoni1, SEP 2, 2009

Answer 3

I believe the word was used in this instance to mean a "clique", a small exclusive group of people who stick together. I maybe wrong but that was my interpretation.

Thanks for your response Eddy

That's was how I thought it was being used in that context. I was just interested in some real world examples for the dictionary definition.

I couldn't figure out, for example, whether that could include (in the context of the US political system) the President's appointed Cabinet members and/or if it could also include special interest groups/lobbyists or any other type of group.

Also, being that it is a Spanish word, I was just wondering if this word was a common word used in political conversation regarding the governments of Spanish speaking nations (perhaps with some examples of how it would be used)

I suppose I should have clarified that in my original posting, but the more I post, the more I feel like I hog up all the space with my too long postings. In brief: I was trying to be brief.