 | |
| Author | Tom Burgis |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Non-fiction |
| Genre | True Crime, Business, Politics |
| Publisher | HarperCollins Books |
| Pages | 464 |
Kleptopia: How Dirty Money Is Conquering the World is Tom Burgis's non-fiction book about the combined effects ofglobalization and worldwide forces of corruption, published in 2020. The book uses narrative nonfiction and true crime tropes to detail and explore globalkleptocractic effects and consequences – with Kazakhstan in particular "featur[ing] heavily in Burgis's investigation"[1] – as well as how practices of corruption (such asmoney laundering) entrench themselves viashell corporations, thedark money banking system, andpolitical lobbying. Burgis anchors the book with the stories of four individuals, which theFinancial Times described as "elegantly woven together and delivered in a form that makes the technicalities of finance accessible to the non-expert."[2] On 9 September 2021, it was reported that mining companyEurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC), parentEurasian Resources Group, had taken legal action against the publishers in respect of claims made in the book[3] that was later dismissed.
A reviewer forThe Times of London described the book as "meticulously reported piece of investigative journalism, it is written in the style of a fast-paced thriller."[4] AWashington Post article notes, "Burgis is a strong storyteller. We can visualize diamonds smuggled in a toothpaste tube for Swiss banking clients. We see a lawyer taking SIM cards with important contacts from her oligarch client and concealing them in a candy wrapper as he fled one snowy night on a private plane from his home country for asylum in London."[5] The book was also listed as one of the publication's 50 notable works of nonfiction for 2020.[6]
The Guardian's review voiced some criticism over the various plots and storylines followed in the book: "This is a ghastly and very important story. But the secret to great storytelling is knowing what to leave out. If Burgis had found a more focused way to tell this one, he would have written a much more powerful book."[7]
On 9 September, 2021, it was reported that ENRC had taken legal action against HarperCollins and The Financial Times, with respect to claims made within the book and subsequent reportage.[3] The claim was dismissed in March 2022.[8]