Is there a Fox in the Henhouse? A Comparative Perspective of State Capture in the U.S.

Across the world, we’re witnessing a transformation in how corruption operates. It’s not just about individual bribery or isolated misconduct. In many places, powerful actors are reshaping state institutions themselves— weakening oversight, insulating allies from consequences, and redirecting public power toward private gain. This deeper structural transformation is often called state capture , and it has altered political systems from South Africa to Guatemala to Sri Lanka. What is this form of corruption? How does it impact human rights? How can it be countered? On this episode of the Just Security Podcast, Host Dani Schulkin is joined by Naomi Roht-Arriaza, Distinguished Professor of Law at UC Hastings and anti-corruption expert, to discuss the warning signs of this type of corruption, how the United States is showing worrying parallels, and what can be done to push back against it. Show Notes: “ Is the U.S. Becoming a Captured State? A Comparative Perspective ,” by Naomi Roht-Arriaza on Just Security “ When Guardrails Erode ” Series by Dani Schulkin, Amy Markopolous, and Maya Nir on Just Security “ The Anti-Corruption Tracker: Mapping the Erosion of Oversight and Accountability ,” by Dani Schulkin, Amy Markopolous, and Maya Nir on Just Security Fighting Grand Corruption: Transnational and Human Rights Approaches in Latin America and Beyond by Naomi Roht-Arriaza