Dr. Jodi Vittori

You know, they're kind of shiny, the nice downtown areas and so forth. And they're a much more subtle sort of form of kleptocracy. You know, Hungary is the classic example. Orban calls this country an illiberal democracy. That's his goal. Of course, it's an oxymoron. Liberal with a small L, obviously, not a big L. It's an oxymoron.

You know, they're kind of shiny, the nice downtown areas and so forth. And they're a much more subtle sort of form of kleptocracy. You know, Hungary is the classic example. Orban calls this country an illiberal democracy. That's his goal. Of course, it's an oxymoron. Liberal with a small L, obviously, not a big L. It's an oxymoron.

You can't be democratic and not be liberal with the rule of law and rule of law institute. Right. but he has made it so that his cronies control the media. He makes sure his friends get contracts. These are very expensive contracts and so forth.

You can't be democratic and not be liberal with the rule of law and rule of law institute. Right. but he has made it so that his cronies control the media. He makes sure his friends get contracts. These are very expensive contracts and so forth.

You can't be democratic and not be liberal with the rule of law and rule of law institute. Right. but he has made it so that his cronies control the media. He makes sure his friends get contracts. These are very expensive contracts and so forth.

The United States, if it does slip into kleptocracy will be unique because we have never had a situation where a consolidated democracy with strong governing institutions has gone to a full-fledged kleptocracy before. It was always theoretically possible, but it hasn't happened. There have been grand corruption scandals in places.

The United States, if it does slip into kleptocracy will be unique because we have never had a situation where a consolidated democracy with strong governing institutions has gone to a full-fledged kleptocracy before. It was always theoretically possible, but it hasn't happened. There have been grand corruption scandals in places.

The United States, if it does slip into kleptocracy will be unique because we have never had a situation where a consolidated democracy with strong governing institutions has gone to a full-fledged kleptocracy before. It was always theoretically possible, but it hasn't happened. There have been grand corruption scandals in places.

But the United States wouldn't be considered a consolidated democracy at that point. We don't really, truly become a fully fledged, consolidated democracy until after the passing of the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s. So again, that's not going to qualify. Plus, U.S. is the country in the international system. It's the reserve currency. It's the largest military.

But the United States wouldn't be considered a consolidated democracy at that point. We don't really, truly become a fully fledged, consolidated democracy until after the passing of the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s. So again, that's not going to qualify. Plus, U.S. is the country in the international system. It's the reserve currency. It's the largest military.

But the United States wouldn't be considered a consolidated democracy at that point. We don't really, truly become a fully fledged, consolidated democracy until after the passing of the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s. So again, that's not going to qualify. Plus, U.S. is the country in the international system. It's the reserve currency. It's the largest military.

What happens when the state power in the global system, if it becomes a kleptocracy? We don't have a historic model for that.

What happens when the state power in the global system, if it becomes a kleptocracy? We don't have a historic model for that.

What happens when the state power in the global system, if it becomes a kleptocracy? We don't have a historic model for that.

I think a little bit. I mean, our founding fathers did an amazing job on taking government and setting up in ways with checks and balances.

I think a little bit. I mean, our founding fathers did an amazing job on taking government and setting up in ways with checks and balances.

I think a little bit. I mean, our founding fathers did an amazing job on taking government and setting up in ways with checks and balances.

And well, and they were in many ways, some scholars make the argument that a lot of what went into the Constitution is actually anti-corruption methods and institutions as they understood them at the time. Things like the Emoluments Clause. They had seen kings bribed with, you know, chests of gold. They didn't. That's why they put it in there. It was in the Articles of Confederation.

And well, and they were in many ways, some scholars make the argument that a lot of what went into the Constitution is actually anti-corruption methods and institutions as they understood them at the time. Things like the Emoluments Clause. They had seen kings bribed with, you know, chests of gold. They didn't. That's why they put it in there. It was in the Articles of Confederation.

And well, and they were in many ways, some scholars make the argument that a lot of what went into the Constitution is actually anti-corruption methods and institutions as they understood them at the time. Things like the Emoluments Clause. They had seen kings bribed with, you know, chests of gold. They didn't. That's why they put it in there. It was in the Articles of Confederation.