control or govern

支配(しはい)	To control – as in “a white-controlled society of South Africa” or “Thor controls the weather” or “The hotel owner controls the hotel.” “the CIA is controlled by the Illuminati.” The implication is that the thing / people being controlled doesn’t really have a say in the matter.

操作(そうさ)	To operate or control a machine. Also – in the financial world – sometimes　操作 means ‘manipulate’, as in ‘manipulate the stock market.’

治める(おさめる)	To govern – it feels a little less harsh than 支配. Like the government is legitimate. Also unlike 支配、収める is limited to politics.

操縦(そうじゅう)	Manipulate – a machine or a person. Manipulate the government from behind the scenes!