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.
Referring to the group of people who run a kleptocracy.
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.
That country has long suffered under a kleptocracy.
The direct loanword from English, used in academic or journalistic contexts.
Kleptocracy is rampant in this region.
Means 'state-sponsored corruption', emphasizing the systemic nature of the theft.
State-sponsored corruption bankrupted the economy.
Literally 'plundering by the ruling class', a more descriptive phrase used in political commentary.
Plundering by the ruling class has become the norm.
The corrupt ruling elite is privatizing national wealth.
Literally 'bandit politicians', a strong term for politicians who act like thieves.
Those bandit politicians are feeding off the people's taxes.