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Kleptocracy

A '''kleptocracy''' (sometimes '''cleptocracy''', occasionally '''kleptarchy''') (''root: klepto+kratein'' = ''rule by theft|thieves'') is a term applied to a form of government|government that extends the personal wealth and political power of government officials and the ruling class (collectively, '''kleptocrats''') at the expense of the population.

Characteristics

Kleptocracies are often dictatorships or some other form of autocracy|autocratic and Nepotism|nepotist government, or lapsed democracies that have transformed into oligarchy|oligarchies.

Effects

The effects of a kleptocratic regime or government on a nation are typically adverse in regards to the faring of the state's economy, political affairs and civil rights. Kleptocracy in a government often results in a severe deficit of foreign investment prospect, and drastic weakenings in the market and exportation/importation affairs. As the kleptocracy often embezzles its money from its citizens by misusing funds derived from tax payments, or money laundering schemes, a kleptocractically structured political system can be degrading to the quality of life of the general populace. In addition, the stolen funds that kleptocrats take to their own gain is often removed from funds that were to go towards public improvements, such as the building of hospitals, schools, roads, parks and the like, bringing about yet further adverse effects on the quality of life of the citizens living under a kleptocracy. The pseudo-oligarchy that results from a kleptocrat elite can also be undermining to the democracy, or any other political format the state is ostensibly under.

Examples

Historical

According to one source, an old case of a kleptocratic governed state was Kievan Rus' where the alliance between Varangians and Slavic élites set up this type of government which resisted all attacks till 1240 when the Tatars conquered Kiev.

Modern

Transparency International ranking

In early 2004, the anti-corruption Germany-based NGO Transparency International released a list of what it believes to be the ten most self-enriching leaders in recent years. In order of amount allegedly stolen (in USD), they are:
- Former Indonesian President Suharto ( billion – billion)
- Former Philippines|Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos ( billion – billion)
- Former Zaire|Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko ( billion)
- Former Nigerian President Sani Abacha ( billion – billion)
- Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević ( billion)
- Former Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier (0 million – 0 million)
- Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori (0 million)
- Former Ukraine|Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko (4 million – 0 million)
- Former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Alemán (0 million)
- Former Philippines|Philippine President Joseph Estrada ( million – million)

Narcokleptocracy

A '''narcokleptocracy''' is a society ruled by "thieves" involved in the trade of narcotics. The term has its origin in a report prepared by a subcommittee of the United States Senate U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB113/north06.pdf The term was used specifically to describe the regime of Manuel Noriega in Panama. The term's construction builds on the already existing pejorative term "kleptocracy"- which is a government run by thieves. That is more precisely, a government run expressly for the financial benefit of those who govern.

The Bush Administration

In 2006, the Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush Administration, consistent with promises made at the recent 32nd G8 summit|G8 Summit, enunciated a policy specifically intended to internationalize an effort to resist, pursue, and prosecute kleptocracies.. The White House stated intended commitments to: denying safe haven, bringing together major financial centers vulnerable to exploitation in order to develop preventive anti-corruption practices, enhance international information sharing on corrupt officials, uncover, seize, and return stolen funds and prosecute those criminals involved, and ensure greater multilateral action in helping to develop and repair those areas of the world stricken by high-level corruption.