This is the title of a recent book dealing with the origins of power, prosperity and poverty by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson details what they believe is why any countries have failed, and why some succeed.

The central theory of the book is the link between inclusive economic and political institutions and prosperity. They say that inclusive economic institutions enforce property rights, create level playing fields and encourage investments in new technologies and skills which ultimately lead to more economic growth. The opposite to this is extractive economic institutions that are designed to extract resources from the many, by the few, and fail to protect property rights or provide incentives for economic activity.
Inclusive economic institutions are generally supported by inclusive political institutions where political power is widely distributed and that allows the economy to secure property rights and have an inclusive market economy.

The opposite of this, and which is normally the sign of a nation that will fail in the end, according to the book, are extractive political institutions, “… which concentrate power in the hands of a few, who will then have incentives to maintain and develop extractive economic institutions for their benefit and use the resources they obtain to cement their hold on political power.” The book also points out that because in those types of political institutions those in power benefit a lot, that power in those countries is highly coveted, “…making many groups and individuals fight to obtain it. As a consequence, there will be powerful forces pushing societies under extractive institutions towards political instability.”