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Kleptocracy (from Greek κλέπτης kléptēs, "thief", or κλέπτω kléptō, "I steal", and -κρατία -kratía from κράτος krátos, "power, rule"), also referred to as thievocracy,[1][2] is a government whose corrupt leaders (kleptocrats) use political power to expropriate the wealth of the people and land they govern, typically by embezzling or misappropriating government funds at the expense of the wider population.[3][4] One feature of political-based socioeconomic thievery is that there is often no public announcement explaining or apologizing for misappropriations, nor any legal charges or punishment levied against the offenders.[5]
Kleptocracy is different from plutocracy (rule by the richest) and oligarchy (rule by a small elite). In a kleptocracy, corrupt politicians enrich themselves secretly outside the rule of law, through kickbacks, bribes, and special favors from lobbyists and corporations, or they simply direct state funds to themselves and their associates. Also, kleptocrats often export much of their profits to foreign nations in anticipation of losing power.[6]
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first use in English occurs in the publication Indicator of 1819: "Titular ornaments, common to Spanish kleptocracy."[7]
- ^ "The Trauma of Ascending to Presidency Through the Backdoor". Modern Ghana. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- ^ Matsilele, Trust (December 2013). The political role of the diaspora media in the mediation of the Zimbabwean crisis : a case study of The Zimbabwean – 2008 to 2010 (Thesis). Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
{{cite thesis}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "kleptocracy", Dictionary.com Unabridged, n.d., retrieved November 1, 2016
- ^ "Kleptocracy". The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 1st ed. 1909.
- ^ "Zanu thievocracy knows no boundaries" Archived February 19, 2020, at the Wayback Machine,The Zimbabwean, December 20, 2008
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
divideandrulewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Oxford English Dictionary: Kleptocracy".