logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2024
4m 2s

What are the world’s biggest kleptocraci...

BABABAM
About this episode

You may remember that we’ve talked about the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index in the past on Do You Really Know, which assigns each of the world’s countries a score from one to ten based on how democratic they are.  

But have you ever heard of a kleptocracy? It’s a phenomenon that can creep into democracies and drag down their scores. A kleptocracy is a political system where corruption and money laundering are rampant. Public funds are often syphoned off and hidden in tax havens, with the families and inner circles of those in power frequently benefiting from these large-scale thefts.

Is the “klepto” part similar to kleptomania? Where does this happen? Are Western democracies immune to all this? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What is healthwashing?

Who are the Moonies, the church with ties to Japanese politicians?

What are the benefits of No Nut November?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
How do I know if I'm allergic to gluten?
In recent years, gluten-free diets have become more and more popular. No doubt you’ve seen “Free From” aisles in your local supermarket, and you can also get gluten-free items in health food shops or online. Some people have no choice but to adopt such a diet, because they have c ... Show More
5m 16s
Yesterday
How to use less water?
Water footprint matters because scientists have calculated that the climate crisis makes drought 20 times more likely, while the UN predicts that demand for fresh water will exceed supply by 40% by 2030. You might think that you only use water when you drink, cook, wash, or flush ... Show More
4m 42s
Yesterday
What are the most hydrating foods?
We all know staying hydrated is crucial for feeling fit and healthy. The general recommendation is to drink between 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day. But let’s be honest, it’s not always easy to stick to that. Ideally, you shouldn’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water because ... Show More
4m 2s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Oligarchy
Is Trump’s presidential reign turning the US into an oligarchy? Or did the US fall into oligarchic rule many years ago? In episode 127 of Overthink, David and Ellie dive into what an oligarchy looks like, the dangers of a country’s power being in the hands of the wealthy few, and ... Show More
54m 3s
Oct 2024
Sarah M. Stitzlein, "Teaching Honesty in a Populist Era: Emphasizing Truth in the Education of Citizens" (Oxford UP, 2024)
Democracy is struggling in an age of populism and post-truth. In a world swirling with competing political groups stating conflicting facts, citizens are left unsure whom to trust and which facts are true. The role of honesty in civic life is in jeopardy. When we lose sight of th ... Show More
43m 8s
Nov 2020
18. What is Democracy? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
On today’s episode, we will look at democracy. What is democracy? What does democracy look like? Is democracy the best type of government? Transcript! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/08/18-what-is-democracy-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!!!  INSTAGRAM - thinkingin ... Show More
16m 9s
May 2023
This Right-Wing “University” Is Coming For Your Kids
On this week’s episode of Lever Time: David Sirota is joined by Josh Olson and Dave Anthony, hosts of The Audit podcast, to discuss the dangerous influence of the conservative media network Prager University (also known as PragerU). PragerU has become one of the most successful p ... Show More
48m 20s
Jul 2024
Rethinking Democracy Ep. 3: Economic Conditions and Support for Democracy with Daron Acemoglu and Tamara Cofman Wittes
About the series: This is a critical year for the future of democracy. Half the world’s population will go to the polls in 2024, at a time when citizens in America and across the globe are losing faith in democratic institutions. We often view the rollback of democracy and threat ... Show More
1h 2m
Jul 2024
UK Election Special: Don't Let Power Trap You
By the time this episode is released, the UK will most likely be waking up to a new Prime Minister and Government (well, that's what the polls suggest!). And if your'e living in Europe, France is also in the midst of a Presidential vote tooSo with politicians seeking votes, what ... Show More
43m 58s
Mar 2025
[TEASER] China Pt. 3: Bourgeois Democracy vs Socialist Democracy w/ Vijay Prashad
This is a free preview of the episode "China Pt. 3: Bourgeois Democracy vs Socialist Democracy w/ Vijay Prashad." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to at least o ... Show More
17m 53s
Sep 2024
Rethinking Democracy Ep. 4: China's Growing Presence in the Middle East with Dr. F. Gregory Gause and Dr. Jon Alterman
About the series: This is a critical year for the future of democracy. Half the world’s population will go to the polls in 2024, at a time when citizens in America and across the globe are losing faith in democratic institutions. We often view the rollback of democracy and threat ... Show More
42m 32s
Dec 2024
Alexander Guerrero, "Lottocracy: Democracy Without Elections" (Oxford UP, 2024)
Elections loom large in our everyday understanding of democracy. Yet we also acknowledge that our familiar electoral apparatus is questionable from a democratic point of view. Very few citizens have access to the kinds of resources that could enable them to stand for election; co ... Show More
1h 9m