kleptocrats
Corruption-enriched political leaders
Kleptocrats are rulers who use political power to steal from the people they govern, typically through embezzlement, bribery, and exploiting state resources for personal wealth.
The term combines Greek roots meaning "rule by thieves." Kleptocrats often maintain power through corruption networks and suppress opposition: The kleptocrats had looted the treasury while the population starved.
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
misappropriation · fraud · extortion · venality · malfeasance · cronyism · nepotism · payola
Wealthy few who govern
- dictatorsRulers with total control
- despotsOppressive absolute rulers
- tyrantsOppressive absolute rulers
- strongmenAuthoritarian rulers or muscular performers
warlords · party bosses · Mobutu · Marcos · Suharto · Putin · cronies · inner circle
Wealth obtained dishonestly
- offshore accountsBank deposits in other countries
- tax havensLow-levy jurisdictions for assets
- shell companiesLegally registered but inactive businesses
- slush fundsUndisclosed money for bribes
hidden assets · Swiss banks · laundered money · real estate holdings · yachts · mansions · front companies · Panama Papers
Concentrated, unchecked governmental power
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- oligarchyRule by few
totalitarianism · regime · one-party state · rigged elections · suppression · censorship · propaganda · coercion
Obtaining substances from nature
- state assetsGovernment-owned property and resources
- public fundsGovernment-held monetary resources
- national treasuryState's central funds
- mineral rightsClaim to underground resources
oil revenues · foreign aid · pension funds · disenfranchisement · impoverishment
embezzlement
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
kickbacks · misappropriation · fraud · extortion · venality · malfeasance · cronyism · nepotism · payola · racketeering
oligarchs
Wealthy few who govern
- dictatorsRulers with total control
- despotsOppressive absolute rulers
- tyrantsOppressive absolute rulers
strongmen · warlords · party bosses · Mobutu · Marcos · Suharto · Putin · cronies · inner circle · corrupt officials
ill-gotten gains
Wealth obtained dishonestly
- offshore accountsBank deposits in other countries
- tax havensLow-levy jurisdictions for assets
- shell companiesLegally registered but inactive businesses
slush funds · hidden assets · Swiss banks · laundered money · real estate holdings · yachts · mansions · front companies · Panama Papers · numbered accounts
authoritarianism
Concentrated, unchecked governmental power
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
oligarchy · totalitarianism · regime · one-party state · rigged elections · suppression · censorship · propaganda · coercion · intimidation
resource extraction
Obtaining substances from nature
- state assetsGovernment-owned property and resources
- public fundsGovernment-held monetary resources
- national treasuryState's central funds
mineral rights · oil revenues · foreign aid · pension funds · disenfranchisement · impoverishment
- oppressorstyrants, despots, dictators, authoritarians, totalitarians
kleptocratsstewards
Those who manage affairs
fiscal conservatives · custodians · fiduciaries · trustees · benefactors
kleptocratsNelson Mandela
founding fathers · liberators · George Washington · philosopher kings · Mahatma Gandhi