Or **Predatory Exploitation** to be more precise, is the stage where the society, fractured by Division becomes a machine for extracting benefit for the corrupt at the expense of the powerless. Most traditional definitions of Corruption are just different forms of Predatory Exploitation. Whether it is exploiting a public position for private gain or benefiting from an impunity of consequences. Exploitation could be the act of using someone or something unfairly for your own advantage[](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/exploitation) or Exploiting ....a position of authority to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's gain. Or... the deliberate maltreatment, manipulation or abuse of power to take advantage of another individual, group or situation usually, but not always, for personal gain.[](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/recognising-adult-abuse-exploitation-and-neglect#:~:text=Exploitation%20is%20the%20deliberate%20maltreatment,slavery)** #### Predatory Exploitation can be categorized within the following subtypes:** **[[3.1.0) Social & Political Exploitation]]** The use of social structures and political power to maintain dominance and exclude others. - - **Political Exploitation:** Gerrymandering, voter suppression, and the crafting of laws that disenfranchise specific groups to maintain permanent political power. - - **Bureaucratic Exploitation:** "Paperwork oppression"—designing systems of permits, applications, and regulations to be so complex and arbitrary that they can be used selectively to reward allies and punish opponents. - - **Exploitation of Identity, Caste & Status:** Using identity politics not for empowerment but to cynically mobilize a group's grievances to gain power, without any intention of addressing them. Enforcing rigid social hierarchies where one's birth determines their opportunity, and where lower-status groups are systematically denied access to education, desirable jobs, and justice. **[[3.2.0) Economic Exploitation]]** The unfair extraction of labor, resources, or wealth. - - **Labor Exploitation:** Wage theft, unsafe working conditions, modern slavery, union busting, and the use of precarious labor to suppress wages and rights. - - **Asset Exploitation:** Predatory lending, foreclosures, land grabs, and corporate practices that strip assets from vulnerable communities (e.g., subprime mortgage targeting). - - **Resource Exploitation:** The extraction of natural resources (minerals, timber, water) without fair compensation to local communities, leading to environmental degradation and poverty. - - **Consumer Exploitation:** Monopolistic practices, price gouging (especially on essentials), and misleading contracts that trap people in debt. **[[3.3.0) Psychological & Informational Exploitation]]** The manipulation of human thought, attention, and trust for gain. - - **Attention Exploitation:** The business model of many social media platforms, which algorithmically promote outrage and division to maximize engagement (eyeballs = ad revenue), effectively exploiting human psychology for profit. - - **Data Exploitation:** The harvesting and selling of personal data without meaningful consent, creating asymmetries of knowledge and power that can be used for manipulation (e.g., micro-targeted propaganda). - - **Exploitation of Trust:** Ponzi schemes, fraudulent investment opportunities, and conspiracy theories that are monetized (e.g., selling "preparedness" supplies to those scared by the rhetoric). This preys on trust and fear. # The traditional definition of Corruption explained as just forms of Exploitation **The most common definition used when discussing Corruption is in relation to political and economic systems; and the exploitation of these systems to benefit a few over the needs of the many; most often, by misappropriation, diversion or embezzlement of funds and other resources ###### Corruption can take many forms linked to different types of behaviour, such as bribery, embezzlement, nepotism, extortion, kickbacks, money laundering, fraud, and conflicts of interest.[](https://rwi.lu.se/corruption-comes-in-many-forms/#:~:text=Corruption%20can%20take%20many%20forms,fraud%2C%20and%20conflicts%20of%20interest.) ###### Corruption may... ...involve practices that are legal in many countries.[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption#cite_note-1) ...and include [influence peddling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influence_peddling "Influence peddling") and [Lobbying](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbying "Lobbying") ###### When corruption is systemic, public resources are constantly diverted away from projects, policies and services that serve the common good and benefit the public at large to favor specific groups and interests instead ...through kickbacks, handouts, lucrative government contracts or privileged access to policy-makers.[](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2022-corruption-fundamental-threat-peace-security) ###### Corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division and the environmental crisis.  # Wikipedia Definition of Corruption <iframe src="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/corruption"height="650" width="650"></iframe> # An Excellent Read on the Various definitions of Institutionalized Corruption: ![[dicereport211-forum2.pdf]]