WorldJuly 28, 2026

kleptocracy

KLEP-tuh-krah-see

Definition

A government or state in which those in power use their positions to steal the national wealth for their own personal gain.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Greek words 'kleptes,' meaning thief, and 'kratos,' meaning power or rule. It entered English in the 19th century to describe systems where government officials essentially act as common criminals.

In the news

The article describes how The Sentry works to dismantle networks that profit from conflict, specifically identifying kleptocracy as a core systemic issue they seek to expose. It frames this type of corrupt governance as a foundational driver of mass atrocity crimes.

Event- Sanctioning and Prosecuting Mass Atrocity Crimes in Sudan

Read the full article ↗

thesentry.org

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