iron triangle

iron triangle (plural iron triangles)

1. (US politics, political science) The policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy (executive, sometimes called “government agencies”), and interest groups or lobbyists.
   • 1981, Gordon Adams, The Iron Triangle: The Politics of Defense Contracting, New York: The Council on Economic Priorities, →ISBN, pages 24–25:

     Over the years the defense industry has become a de facto participant in the policy-making process. As in other areas dominated by powerful corporate interests, a policy sub-government or “iron triangle” has emerged. […] The creation of an “iron triangle” takes time and active efforts of its participants. All three sides work to maintain it as economic circumstances change.

   • 1996 December 7, Velisarios Kattoulas, International Herald Tribune, “Corruption Scandals Rack Tokyo's ‘Iron Triangle’”, in International Herald Tribune‎, →ISSN:

     They see the raids as evidence that the “iron triangle” of bureaucrats, politicians and businessmen that in 50 years has turned Japan into the world's second-largest economy has broken down when there is nothing to replace it.

2. (by extension) Any self-reinforcing power structure, whether intentional or accidental, formal or informal.
   • 2012 July 19, Claire Provost, “US food aid: the special interests blocking reform”, in The Guardian‎:

     Together, agribusiness, shipping companies and NGOs form what some have called the “iron triangle” of special interests, blocking reform of the controversial in-kind system.

• regulatory capture

iron triangle

1. (historical) A key communist Chinese and North Korean concentration area and communications junction during the Korean War, located in the central sector.
   • 1951 June 12, “The Iron Triangle Falls”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     After more than a week of hard fighting, in which American, Greek, Turkish, Filipino and Thai troops have joined in a common effort, they have demolished the “iron triangle” in the rugged hills of central Korea, which formed one of the keys of the whole Commnuist^[sic] defense line north of the Thirty-eighth parallel.

2. (historical) A stronghold of the Viet Minh during the Vietnam War, located north of Saigon.
   • 1965 October 13, “‘Iron Triangle’ Fight Goes On”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     American paratroopers and Australian infantrymen have killed 81 Vietcong and captured 79 in five days of light fighting in the guerrillas’ “iron triangle” jungle base about 25 miles north of Saigon, a United States military spokesman said today.

• Iron Triangle

• iron triangle (US politics) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Iron Triangle (Korea) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Iron Triangle (Vietnam) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia