State capture—the covert control of government institutions by private interests or corrupt elites—is under scrutiny across multiple democracies. From South Africa's Gupta controversy to Serbia's media distrust and U.S. calls for formal inquiry, governments worldwide face allegations that unaccountable networks have hijacked state machinery for personal gain.
·U.S. officials propose a Commission of Inquiry to investigate state capture mechanisms within American institutions
·Serbia's citizens trust social media over official channels, signaling deep institutional erosion and elite control of traditional media
·South Africa's ruling party demands parliamentary investigation into opposition figure's lobbying ties amid concerns over corporate influence on government
·African governments struggle as entrenched elite networks use captured state apparatus to block democratic reform and development
·Jacob Zuma's continued ties to the Gupta family illustrate how former officials perpetuate control after leaving office
drawn from Time Magazine, civicus lens, State Court Report, CNN · updated 5h ago