faction-based politics
Refers to political systems or situations where internal factions or cliques dominate decision-making, often at the expense of broader party or public interest.
Faction-based politics is hindering reform.
That party has long been plagued by faction-based politics.
派閥 means 'faction' or 'clique' itself, while 派閥政治 refers to the political system or practice dominated by such factions.
政党政治 means 'party politics', which is broader and more neutral; 派閥政治 specifically highlights internal factionalism within parties or organizations.
Compound of 派閥 (faction, clique) and 政治 (politics, government). The term is a straightforward Sino-Japanese compound describing a political dynamic.