Why it's wrong
Reduces complex governance systems to a single dynamic — that theft is the defining feature of the state. It often replaces specific analysis of how power and resources are controlled.
What's actually true
World Bank and Transparency International assessments show that corruption in African countries is rarely uniform across the entire state. Weaknesses are often concentrated in specific pressure points — procurement, customs, licensing, state-owned enterprises — rather than defining every ministry or institution.
Don't say · Say instead
Don't say
“The country is a kleptocracy.”
Say instead
“The country is experiencing state capture, with political elites exerting control over key economic sectors.”
Shorthand: State capture