The Post-Colonial State: Dual Functions in the Public Sphere

Abstract

Develops a theory of kleptocracy to offer a more sophisticated understanding of corruption in Third World political economies. Differences in indigenous, Western, & Islamic notions of the state are studied in the context of the Malay-Indonesian archipelago. The primary characteristics of the capitalist & postcolonial state are discussed; theoretical problems with the notion of relative autonomy are reviewed. Three principal functions of the postcolonial state in the national economy are discussed (eg, the tendency for dominant political parties to own enterprises & invest in properties) & several characteristics of kleptocratic states are identified. Although kleptocracies are not unique to postcolonial states, the conection between independence & corruption makes the postcolonial state the starting point for a theory of kleptocracy. After discussing the consequences of kleptocracy for economic development, it is concluded that future research must address the connection between leadership & the kleptocratic state. J. W. Parker.