Raubwirtschaft (German for "plunder economy", "robber economy", or "rapine") is a term for a form of economy where the goal is to plunder the wealth and resources of a country or geographical area. Koloniale Raubwirtschaft describes a form of colony with the same goal and with no pretence of "civilizing" or aiding the native inhabitants. The term is also used in a non-geographical sense, somewhat similar to the term "rapine". It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ...

The term Raubwirtschaft is often used to describe some late nineteenth century colonial and post-colonial practices in Africa. The Congo Free State of King Léopold II is frequently described as a Raubwirtschaft. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. ... The Congo Free State was a kingdom privately and controversially owned by King Leopold II of Belgium that included the entire area now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ... King Léopold II His Majesty King Léopold II of the Belgians (Louis Philippe Marie Victor) (April 9, 1835–December 17, 1909), succeeded his father, Léopold I of Belgium, to the Belgian throne in 1865 and remained king until his death. ...

One form of Raubwirtschaft is to wage war against one's neighbours and then either plunder their national property and asset or extort them as war reparations. Josef Stalin waged a fairly successful Raubwirtschaft after the World War II inside the Eastern bloc where the East European countries were systematically plundered of their industry and national assets 1945-1949. Other countries, like Finland, were extorted immense war reparation payments. Iosif (usually anglicized as Joseph) Vissarionovich Stalin (Russian: Иосиф Виссарионович Сталин), original name Ioseb Jughashvili (Georgian: იოსებ ჯუღაშვილი; see Other names section) (December 21, 1879[1] – March 5, 1953) was a Bolshevik revolutionary and leader of the Soviet Union. ... Combatants Allies: Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France/Free France, United States, Canada, China, India, Australia, Poland, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Burma, Slovakia Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8... A map of the Eastern Bloc. ...

The term is also used to describe the destruction of rain forest. In a non-geographical sense, it may describe illegal trade with antique objects. A rainforest is a forested biome with high annual rainfall. ...

It is said the economy of the Roman empire was based on Raubwirtschaft. Rome basically plundered the conquered territories and milked the provinces dry; there was little cash flow from Rome to the provinces. The internal economy was based on slavery, and unpaid work had no purchase power, which effectively also prevented the rise of middle class and capitalism since there was no volatile capital to accumulate. Since there was no production of market goods for export, there was no cash flow into the empire either from outside. The economy could be maintained only as long as the Empire was on expanse; once the era of conquests ended on Pax Romana, the empire was doomed. Octavian, widely known as Augustus, founder of the Roman empire The Roman Empire was a phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by an autocratic form of government. ... Slavery is the social and legal designation of specific persons as property, for the purpose of providing labor and services for the owner without the right of the slave to refuse, or gain compensation. ... The middle class (or middle classes) comprises a social group once defined by exception as an intermediate social class between the nobility and the peasantry. ... For other uses, see Capitalism (disambiguation). ... Roman Empire at its greatest extent with the conquests of Trajan Pax Romana (27 BC-180 AD), Latin for the Roman peace, is the long period of relative peace experienced by states within the Roman Empire. ...

See also: Kleptocracy Kleptocracy (sometimes Cleptocracy) (root: Klepto+cracy = rule by thieves) is a pejorative, informal term for a government so corrupt that no pretense of honesty remains. ...