Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
- n. A government characterized by rampant greed and corruption.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- n. A corrupt and dishonest government characterised by greed.
Etymologies
Examples
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COOPER: His reign of corruption would last three decades, spawning the term kleptocracy, rule by thieves.
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ANDERSON: His reign of corruption would last three decades, spawning the term kleptocracy, rule by thieves.
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Many Malaysians now use the word "kleptocracy" to describe their ruling class.
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A commission on Central America chaired by Henry Kissinger declared in 1984 that the general’s “achievements gave new meaning to the term kleptocracy, that is, government as theft.”
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Or turning into a southern European kleptocracy is much more of something I’d worry about.
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The journey from revolutionary times, when Mugabe was instrumental in overthrowing a brutal white power structure, to the excesses of his kleptocracy has been a difficult one.
Clarence Lusane: Zimbabwe May Emulate Tunisia, Egypt, Libya...
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Yemen has been called a kleptocracy-a government of, by and for thieves.
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A kleptocracy is a term applied to a government that extends the personal wealth and political power of government officials and the ruling class (collectively, kleptocrats) at the expense of the population.
HousingPANIC - The Housing Bubble Blog with an Attitude Problem, 2005 - 2008
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And those populist waves are usually grounded in a basic neglect of right-wing governments for poor populations, combined with some level of kleptocracy which is endemic in the third world.
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Reagan ushered in the Brezhnev era of "kleptocracy" where insider looting and corruption increased exponentially to the point where the entire system, economically, politically became dysfuntional.
White House: Public Option Not Essential--A Sliver Of Reform
avivamagnolia commented on the word kleptocracy
~ a political regime whose members make flagrantly dishonest use of their official position for personal gain
Related Forms:
* kleptocrat klep′·to·crat′ (-tə krat′) noun
* kleptocratic klep′·to·crat′ic adjective
Usage Examples
* Lord Black accused of running a "corporate kleptocracy."
January 18, 2009
skipvia commented on the word kleptocracy
Yes, as through this world I've wandered
I've seen lots of funny men;
Some will rob you with a six-gun,
And some with a fountain pen.
-Woody Guthrie, Pretty Boy Floyd
October 31, 2007
reesetee commented on the word kleptocracy
I agree. Not enough people are stealing it.
August 27, 2007
uselessness commented on the word kleptocracy
This word needs more popularity. Seriously.
August 26, 2007
palooka commented on the word kleptocracy
"A government characterized by rampant greed and corruption." per the American Heritage Dictionary. Also kleptocratic & kleptocrat.
January 28, 2007