Nineteenth-century Egyptians redefined siyasa to cover administrative management of a nation

Evidence

In the third and fourth categories, al-siyasa al-amma (public) and al-siyasa al-khassa (private), the new meaning of political practice appears. ‘Public siyasa’ is defined as ‘the leading of groups (such as the leadership of princes over countries or armies), the organisation of matters as necessary for the improvement of people’s condition, proper administration (tadbir), and the supervision of law and order and finances.’ The narrower concept of leadership is broadened to include the regulation, management, and supervision of a nation’s affairs. — Timothy Mitchell, Colonising Egypt, 340

Categorization

• DEFINE: Traces the lexical broadening of siyasa from leadership to full administrative governance.