State Capture: How democracy can be systematically corrupted.

State capture refers to a form of systematic corruption where political leaders abuse their power to benefit themselves and their allies. This can involve controlling state functions, shaping public policy, and appointing allies to key decision-making roles. State capture has been observed in various countries, including Hungary under Viktor Orbán and South Africa under Jacob Zuma. It can lead to the consolidation of power, erosion of democratic norms, and exacerbation of inequality. State capture can also occur on a transnational level, where one government seeks to control the state of another country. Mature democracies are not immune to state capture, as seen in the examples of Donald Trump in the United States and Boris Johnson in the United Kingdom. Rolling back state capture is challenging and requires the establishment of plural institutions that distribute power and allow for accountability. [Extracted from the article]