PoliticsAugust 25, 2026

kleptocratic

klep-tuh-KRAT-ik

Definition

Characterized by a government or ruling class that steals or misappropriate funds and resources from the public for personal gain.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek words 'kleptes' (thief) and 'kratos' (rule or power). The term emerged in the 20th century to describe corrupt regimes that function primarily to enrich the ruling elite.

In the news

The author uses this term to describe the decades-long Somoza dictatorship, emphasizing how the regime systematically plundered national resources for the benefit of a ruling family.

Ortega, Elections, and the Context Western Media Won’t Print

Read the full article ↗

Orinoco Tribune

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