IS YOUR GOVERNMENT KLEPTOCRATIC? IT IS THE COMMON FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN AFRICA.

Kleptocracy, alternatively cleptocracy or kleptarchy, (from Greek: κλέπτης – kleptēs, « thief » and κράτος – kratos, « power, rule », hence « rule by thieves ») is a form of political and government corruption where the government exists to increase the personal wealth and political power of its officials and the ruling class at the expense of the wider population, often without pretense of honest service. This type of government corruption is often achieved by the embezzlement of state funds.

CHARACTERISTICS
Kleptocracies are generally associated with corrupt forms of authoritarian governments, particularly dictatorships, oligarchies, military juntas, or some other forms of autocratic and nepotist government in which no outside oversight is possible, due to the ability of the kleptocrat(s) to personally control both the supply of public funds and the means of determining their disbursal. Kleptocratic rulers typically treat their country’s treasury as though it were their own personal bank account, spending the funds on luxury goods as they see fit. Many kleptocratic rulers also secretly transfer public funds into secret personal numbered bank accounts in foreign countries in order to provide them with continued luxury if/when they are eventually removed from power and forced to leave the country.

Kleptocracy is most common in developing countries. Such incomes constitute a form of economic rent and are therefore easier to siphon off without causing the income itself to decrease (for example, due to capital flight as investors pull out to escape the high taxes levied by the kleptocrats).

An early phase of this is driven by tenderpreneur elites who seek to capture resources for personal benefit.

EFFECTS :

The effects of a kleptocratic regime or government on a nation are typically adverse in regards to the faring of the state’s economy, political affairs and civil rights. Kleptocracy in government often vitiates prospects of foreign investment and drastically weakens the domestic market and cross-border trade. As the kleptocracy normally embezzles money from its citizens by misusing funds derived from tax payments, or money laundering schemes, a kleptocratically structured political system tends to degrade nearly everyone’s quality of life.

In addition, the money that kleptocrats steal is often taken from funds that were earmarked for public amenities, such as the building of hospitals, schools, roads, parks and the like – which has further adverse effects on the quality of life of the citizens living under a kleptocracy. The quasi-oligarchy that results from a kleptocratic elite also subverts democracy (or any other political format the state is ostensibly under).

FRIENDS OF KLEPTOCRATIC REGIMES :
Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy.

Cronyism exists when the appointer and the beneficiary are in social contact; often, the appointer is inadequate to hold his or her own job or position of authority, and for this reason the appointer appoints individuals who will not try to weaken him or her, or express views contrary to those of the appointer. Politically, « cronyism » is derogatorily used.

Governments are particularly susceptible to accusations of cronyism, as they spend public money. Many democratic governments are encouraged to practice administrative transparency in accounting and contracting, however, there often is no clear delineation of when an appointment to government office is « cronyism ».

It is not unusual for a politician to surround him- or herself with highly-qualified subordinates, and to develop social, business, or political friendships leading to the appointment to office of friends, likewise in granting government contracts. In fact, the counsel of such friends is why the officeholder successfully obtained his or her powerful position — therefore, cronyism usually is easier to perceive than to demonstrate and prove. However, « The practice of favoritism based on relationships and connections – rather than someone who demonstrates top credentials and well-suited experience – ultimately results in vastly inferior government service to the public. »

Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis (m. « nephew »), from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, « nephew » or « grandchild » are also descended.

Difference between nepotism and cronyism
Nepotism differs from cronyism primarily as nepotism refers to partiality to family whereas cronyism refers to partiality to friends or acquaintances. Forced cronyism may be due to political promises whereas nepotism under due recess is generally due to social pressure.

Bribery is an act of implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black’s Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other person in charge of a public or legal duty.

The bribe is the gift bestowed to influence the recipient’s conduct. It may be any money, good, right in action, property, preferment, privilege, emolument, object of value, advantage, or merely a promise or undertaking to induce or influence the action, vote, or influence of a person in an official or public capacity.

In economics, the bribe has been described as rent. Bribery in bureaucracy has been viewed as a reason for higher cost of production of goods and services.

With those definitions and assertions try to figure out if your government is kleptocratic ! If so, take a stand, act now. Otherwise, you are an accomplice of the ruining future of your country. In this scheme, your country is more likely to get involved in riots, hunger, lack of justice, more poverty, less education, less  hospitals and less education facilities. Many of our governments in Africa beg half of their annual budget to only overcome the wages of their civil servants.

Seydina Oumar Toure

(Public sources)