What does autarky mean?
Autarky is the condition of being economically self-sufficient — a state in which a country, region, or system produces everything it needs without relying on imports or foreign trade. The term comes from Greek roots meaning 'self-sufficing' and is used chiefly in economics, history, and political science. Historically, autarky has been pursued during wars, embargoes, and periods of isolationism, when nations sought to shield themselves from outside dependence; notable examples include the closed economies of Nazi Germany and the early Soviet Union. In modern usage, the word often carries a skeptical connotation, because economists widely hold that few nations can prosper while sealed off from global markets. Beyond economics, autarky can describe any self-contained system requiring nothing from outside itself. Related terms include 'autarkic' (adjective) and 'autarchy', which more precisely means absolute rule. Autarky remains a valuable word for discussing trade policy, sanctions, and debates over national self-reliance versus globalization.
nounThe condition of economic self-sufficiency, in which a country or system does not rely on imports or external trade to meet its needs.
- Economic self-sufficiency of a country or region, achieved without imports or foreign trade.
- More broadly, any closed or self-contained system that requires nothing from outside itself.
"After the trade embargo, the nation was forced into a state of near-total autarky."
"The island's autarky meant it survived the global shipping crisis largely unscathed."
"In his lecture, the economist argued that complete autarky is an impossible ideal for any industrialized nation."
Rarely pluralized; used only when comparing the self-sufficiency of multiple countries or systems.
"Historians have compared the autarkies attempted by several mid-twentieth-century states."
Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union both chased total autarky — and both discovered that no modern economy can truly feed, fuel, and arm itself alone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of autarky
Autarky derives from the Greek 'autarkeia', meaning self-sufficiency, formed from 'autos' ('self') plus 'arkein' ('to suffice' or 'to be strong enough'). The concept appears in ancient Greek philosophy, notably in Aristotle's discussion of the self-sufficient polis, before entering English in the early 17th century. It shares its Greek root 'autos' with words such as autonomy, autocracy, and automatic.
Related word forms
How autarky is actually used
A formal term used mainly in economics, political science, and history. It often carries a critical or cautionary connotation, since pursuing autarky is frequently associated with isolationism, wartime economies, or failed planned economies. The variant spelling 'autarchy' overlaps in some historical usage but is now generally distinguished as above.
Easily confused with autarky
Autarky refers specifically to economic self-sufficiency without reliance on trade, while autarchy denotes absolute rule or sovereign power by a single ruler.