Bullies destroying the Democratic World

Several strongman leaders have secured power since Putin's rise in 2000. Trump, Bolsonaro, Erdogan, Xi Jingping and Modi are a design feature of today's world. Kleptocracy, governing by thieving, is essential to understand this modern global order. Kleptocracy in the 21st century resembles fascism and communism in the 20th century.

Kleptocracy is the capture of the politics and economy of a country by a group of politicians, businesses and thorough criminals who enrich themselves by stealing the assets of the state. Kleptocrats expect to enrich themselves and remain in power to enjoy their plunder, enhancing themselves instead of improving the living standards of their citizens this is not their purpose.

Russia sends hundreds of thousands of Russians and Ukrainians to their death. Putin believed his advisors who told him Ukrainians would welcome his invading troops with Zelensky overcome by their citizens.

Bullies resist democracy because it exposes secrecy and unaccountability of their activities. Judges and juries can hold bullies to account, a free press exposes their theft and corruption. Bullies leading Ruissia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Myanmar and Zimbabwe share the determination to deprive their citizens of any real influence or public vote. Putin disposed of democracy with an overlay of democratic trappings with no accountability. Xi Jingping since 2013 outlined the threats to the Chinese Communist Party, namely, western democracy, universal values, media independence, civic participation and criticism of the CCP.

In 2022, the UNHCR described the mass arrest and torture of Uyghurs in Xinjiang as crimes against humanity. In 2023 the ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights for kidnapping and deporting thousands of Ukrainian children, China and Russia claimed sovereignty, no defence.

Russia and China represent a multipolar world they support each other in avoiding sanctions and support each other in votes at the UN. China is not Russia, Xi Jinping will be remembered for the genocide of the Uyghurs, the crushing of democracy in Hong Kong and the pursuit of overwhelming power without the catastrophe of Mao. The CCP pursues the development of China though not as a complete kleptocracy.

There are not two systems, democracy and kleptocracy are deeply interconnected, there are kleptocrats in London and Washington, where, estate agents source property for autocrats and oligarchs, banks and financial institutions hide their money, global financial of offshore tax havens aid kleptocrats. The levels of inequality in some western democracies, how democracy has been hollowed out, how rules are written for the elites, ensures, there are similarities with kleptocracies.

The greatest danger comes from what has been revealed from within modern democracy.

Source: Irish Times July 2024.