Introductory chapter. Why I wrote the book, background, definitions of grand corruption, state capture, kleptocracy, criminal governance and other explanations of the new scope and virulence of systemic corruption; Latin American precursors and experience; organization of chapters.

Anger and dismay associated with the massive corruption and abuse of foreign jurisdictions, as safe havens for illicit spoils belonging to political leaders and their associates – particularly in oil-rich countries where political elites latch onto natural resources as a source of power, foreign influence, and illicit enrichment – have shaped the landscape of international relations over the past decades. They have grown in tandem with rising inequality, conflict, and human rights violations, refocusing the attention of the international community onto dictatorial-style kleptocracies where these problems have become most prominent. In a bid to amass, retain, and grow their influence, kleptocrats encircle themselves with “yes men” – enthusiastic professional middlemen aiding them in the accumulation of illicit fortunes, such as by laundering millions of dollars through the international financial system. With these destructive processes the impunity of kleptocratic elites grows and the misrule of law contaminates other states and the international community as a whole.