kleptocracy
Rule through plunder
Kleptocracy is government by thieves—a state in which those in power systematically steal from the public treasury and exploit their positions for personal enrichment.
The term applies to regimes where corruption isn't incidental but fundamental to how the government operates, with leaders siphoning off national resources, accepting bribes, and treating public funds as private wealth.
The country devolved into a kleptocracy under the dictator's forty-year rule.
A leader of such a regime is a kleptocrat.
Rule by few
- autocracyRule by one
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
dictatorship · corporatocracy · cronyism · nepotism · patronage · malfeasance · misrule · corruption
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- extortionObtaining through threats
fraud · misappropriation · cronyism · nepotism · payola · venality · malfeasance · self-dealing
Powerful lifter or despot
- despotRuler with absolute power
- warlordMilitary ruler by force
- oligarchMember of small ruling class
- dictatorRuler with total control
potentate · apparatchik · cronies · elites · ruling class · junta · cabal · regime
Theft during disorder
- pillagingForcible theft during conflict
- siphoningDrawing liquid through tube
- extractionAct of removing
- treasuryStored organizational funds
privatization · expropriation · stripping · ransacking · draining · embezzlement · profiteering
Wealthy few who govern
- croniesClose, often questionable associates
- tycoonsPowerful business leaders
- magnatesWealthy, powerful industrialists
- dynastiesSuccessive rulers from one family
warlords · strongmen · establishment · privileged · well-connected · power-brokers · apparatchiks · entourage
Selfish use of others
- impoverishmentState of extreme deprivation
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- disenfranchisementRemoval of voting rights
- subjugationForcing into submission
coercion · repression · silencing · persecution · censorship · dissidents · poverty · suffering
Rule by hereditary elite
- technocracyGovernance by technical experts
- theocracyRule by religious authority
- gerontocracyGovernment by the oldest
- meritocracyAdvancement through demonstrated ability
mobocracy · gynarchy · chieftaincy · satrapy · fiefdom
oligarchy
Rule by few
- autocracyRule by one
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
tyranny · dictatorship · corporatocracy · cronyism · nepotism · patronage · malfeasance · misrule · corruption · graft
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
extortion · fraud · misappropriation · cronyism · nepotism · payola · venality · malfeasance · self-dealing · bid-rigging
strongman
Powerful lifter or despot
dictator · potentate · apparatchik · cronies · elites · ruling class · junta · cabal · regime · kleptocrat
looting
Theft during disorder
- pillagingForcible theft during conflict
- siphoningDrawing liquid through tube
- extractionAct of removing
treasury · privatization · expropriation · stripping · ransacking · draining · embezzlement · profiteering
oligarchs
Wealthy few who govern
- croniesClose, often questionable associates
- tycoonsPowerful business leaders
- magnatesWealthy, powerful industrialists
dynasties · warlords · strongmen · establishment · privileged · well-connected · power-brokers · apparatchiks · entourage · loyalists
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- impoverishmentState of extreme deprivation
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- disenfranchisementRemoval of voting rights
subjugation · coercion · repression · silencing · persecution · censorship · dissidents · poverty · suffering · deprivation
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
- technocracyGovernance by technical experts
- theocracyRule by religious authority
- gerontocracyGovernment by the oldest
meritocracy · mobocracy · gynarchy · chieftaincy · satrapy · fiefdom
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
- social systemspolitical systems, capitalism, feudalism, economic systems, socialism
- Philippine historypresidents, Spanish rule, vice president, revolutionaries, Imelda
- anticorruptionanti-graft, ethics commission, ethics committee, financial disclosure, graft
- CongoKinshasa, Congo River, DRC, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Basin
- oppressionoppression, tyranny, racism, repression, secret police
kleptocracygood governance
Accountable, transparent institutional management
meritocracy · rule of law · technocracy · servant leadership · stewardship
kleptocracyopen government
Right to state information
checks and balances · democratic accountability · democratic oversight · open society · transparency
kleptocracywelfare state
Government-funded citizen support system
commonwealth · servant leadership · public trust · social democracy · egalitarianism