Books Quote by Sarah Chayes
““The analysis in this book does not just apply to the extreme cases it has examined, where the whole of government has morphed into a criminal organization bent to no other business than personal enrichment, and has retooled the crucial gears of state power to that end. To highlight the problem of kleptocracy only in places like Nigeria and Afghanistan is to reinforce a tacit superiority complex: those populations, of the global south, are somehow unsuited to rational government. They are culturally prone to predation. Reform is not possible, only containment. It is also to duck the significance of the global economic meltdown of 2008. The analysis here applies, and strikingly, to countries closer to home, where governments have been dangerously encroached upon in recent years—even partially colonized—by what John Locke would call “some party of men.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise of Kleptocracy, 2020
The book argues that corrupt governance is not limited to distant, extreme cases but also exists in more familiar, partially colonized states, challenging the notion that only certain regions are prone to predation.
In simple terms: Corruption can be found everywhere, not just in far‑off places.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address systemic corruption wherever it occurs.
Themes
politics
corruption
global inequality
colonial legacy
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- international aid
- civil society activism
- academic research
Key Concepts
Kleptocracy
power dynamics
institutional decay
cultural bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we differentiate between systemic corruption and isolated incidents?
- What role do external actors play in perpetuating kleptocracy?
A Different Perspective
The analysis may overgeneralize and ignore local nuances.
![“Mankind has failed miserably in its effort to devise a rational system of government. [...] The art of government is the exclusive possession of quacks and frauds. It has been so since the earliest days, and it will probably remain so until the end of time.” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a3e/h-l-mencken-245_art_mankind-has-failed-miserably-in-its-effo_1593851.jpg)
![“Criticizing the “corrupt, questionable, and unqualified leaders [placed] into key positions,” the argument rested on the principle of command responsibility: “The international community has enabled and encouraged bad governance through agreement and silence, and often active partnership.” Moving…” quote by Sarah Chayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/516/sarah-chayes-35000_blind-eye_criticizing-the-corrupt-questionable-and_1309107.jpg)
