government by the ruler's in-laws; cronyism through marriage ties
Refers to a political system or situation where power is concentrated among relatives of the ruler's wife, often implying nepotism and behind-the-scenes influence.
In that dynasty, government by in-laws was rampant, and maternal relatives without ability occupied key posts.
One harmful effect of in-law government is that policies become swayed by private interests.
閨閥 alone means 'marital connections' or 'in-law clique'; 閨閥政治 specifically refers to the political system dominated by such connections.
縁故政治 is a broader term for cronyism or nepotism in politics, not limited to marital ties.
Compound of 閨閥 (けいばつ, 'marital connections, in-law clique') and 政治 (せいじ, 'politics, government').