The World Affairs Discussion Group

When the purpose of government changes from advancing the public good to looting the country for private good, either to corrupt insiders only or to insiders and favored groups in society that stay favored by paying off or groveling to the regime - that's Kleptocracy.

Rule of the corrupt, by the corrupt, and for the corrupt.

The Trump Administration has turned us into a kleptocracy in two ways. One is the vast and in-plain-sight looting and favoritism, almost all of it flatly illegal. You can read about this in lots of places, although the mainstream news media seems to be too scared to give it the attention its sheer scale and the damage it is doing deserve.

On May 17th, the World Affairs Discussion Group will discuss the second way our government (and some other U.S. institutions) is advancing the cause of corruption: Cooperating with foreign kleptocracies and their criminal activities. Tools include diplomatic support for regimes like Russia and Saudi Arabia, failure to prosecute corrupt corporate practices, and literal bribery. It is easy to name a half-dozen other ways that global corruption has become not just big business, but big govt - and a network of govts in league with corrupt private power.

Our purpose will not just be to bash the Trump Administration and its corruption abroad (or here, we only have 1.5 hours!). Hopefully we can focus on understanding how kleptocratic governments cooperate these days with each other and with the private corruption they feed off of and protect.

Optional background readings –

Suggested AI-of-your-choice search terms:

1. “What is the connection between kleptocracy and authoritarianism”
2. “How does corruption undermine democracy?”