Translation guide
A government or state in which those in power use their authority to steal resources and wealth for personal gain.
Describing a system where the ruling class systematically steals from the state.
Literally 'bandit politics', this is the most direct and commonly used term for kleptocracy in Japanese.
その国は長年、盗賊政治に苦しんでいる。
That country has long suffered under a kleptocracy.
The direct loanword from English, used in academic or journalistic contexts.
この地域ではクレプトクラシーが蔓延している。
Kleptocracy is rampant in this region.
Means 'state-sponsored corruption', emphasizing the systemic nature of the theft.
国家ぐるみの汚職が経済を破綻させた。
State-sponsored corruption bankrupted the economy.
Literally 'plundering by the ruling class', a more descriptive phrase used in political commentary.
支配層による略奪が常態化している。
Plundering by the ruling class has become the norm.
Referring to the group of people who run a kleptocracy.
Means 'corrupt ruling class', a natural way to describe the elite in a kleptocracy.
腐敗した支配層が国富を私物化している。
The corrupt ruling elite is privatizing national wealth.
Directly translating 'kleptocracy' as 泥棒政治 (どろぼうせいじ) is not standard and may sound unnatural. Use 盗賊政治 instead.
盗賊政治 refers to a system where the rulers are thieves, while 汚職 (おしょく) is general corruption. Kleptocracy implies a systemic, top-down theft, so 盗賊政治 is more precise.
Literally 'bandit politicians', a strong term for politicians who act like thieves.
あの盗賊政治家たちは国民の税金を食い物にしている。
Those bandit politicians are feeding off the people's taxes.