noun
internal maneuvering; behind-the-scenes coordination
Refers to secret negotiations, lobbying, or consensus-building within an organization before presenting a unified stance publicly. Often used in political, corporate, or bureaucratic contexts.
法案の提出前に、党内で内部工作が行われた。
Internal maneuvering took place within the party before the bill was submitted.
彼は社内の内部工作に長けている。
He is skilled at behind-the-scenes coordination within the company.
根回し is a more general term for laying the groundwork or informal consensus-building, while 内部工作 emphasizes secretive or strategic maneuvering within an organization.
工作 alone can mean 'maneuvering' or 'operations' in a broader sense, including external or physical activities; 内部工作 specifically limits the scope to internal, often covert, organizational actions.
Compound of 内部 (internal) and 工作 (maneuvering, operations). The term likely arose in political and bureaucratic contexts to describe behind-the-scenes coordination.