Varieties of Clientelism: Comparing Patronage Democracies

This book explores the different forms of clientelism in various countries and proposes a comparative framework to understand it. It highlights the importance of studying this informal dimension of politics for scholars of democracy and governance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 26 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Clientelism is a pervasive phenomenon in many democratic and electoral authoritarian regimes across the world. Despite its significance, the comparative study of this practice, which involves exchanging personal favors for electoral support, remains relatively underdeveloped. This book makes a compelling case that clientelistic politics manifest in diverse forms in different countries, and that this variation holds significant implications for understanding democracy, elections, and governance.

To explore this topic, the chapters in this volume draw upon the expertise of experienced observers of politics from various countries, including Mexico, Ghana, Sudan, Turkey, Indonesia, the Philippines, Caribbean and Pacific Island states, and Malaysia. These chapters unpack the concept of clientelism and demonstrate that it is possible to identify different types of patronage democracies.

The book proposes a comparative framework that centers on the networks that politicians employ, the types of resources they distribute, their level of control over the distribution of state resources, and highlights the analytical promise of studying a crucial informal dimension of politics.

Varieties of Clientelism is an indispensable resource for scholars and students interested in clientelism, patronage democracies, comparative political economy, as well as party politics. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Democratization, further emphasizing its relevance and importance in the field of political science.

Weight: 471g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032402727