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Revision as of 12:19, 28 August 2003 by GCarty (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Kleptocracy (or sometimes Cleptocracy) (root: Klepto+cracy) is a form of government. It means literally "rule by thieves". It is the end-point of political corruption, where no pretence of honesty remains, and the government of a country exists solely to enrich its rulers and to perpetuate their rule.
The following governments (in alphabetical order by country name) are usually regarded as kleptocracies:
- The government of François Duvalier in Haiti
- The government of President Suharto in Indonesia
- The government of Sani Abacha in Nigeria
- The government of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines
- The government of Nicolae Ceauşescu in Romania
- The government of Idi Amin in Uganda
- The government of Mobutu Sese Seko in the former Zaire
Other governments have been accused of being kleptocracies:
- The government of Silvio Berlusconi in Italy
- The government of Saddam Hussein in Iraq
Kleptocrats often use money laundering and anonymous banking as a way of protecting and concealing their ill-gotten gains.