Winning Hearts and Votes: Social Services and the Islamist Political Advantage

Non-state organizations provide critical social services in non-democratic regimes,but authoritarians may limit their ability to mobilize voters. Steven Brooke's book "Winning Hearts and Votes" argues that authoritarians offload social welfare responsibilities to non-state providers,but those who serve poorer citizens are constrained in their ability to mobilize voters. Organizations that serve paying customers,in contrast,may produce high-quality,consistent,and effective services,generating powerful,reputation-based linkages with a middle-class constituency.

Format: Hardback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2019
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Non-state organizations play a crucial role in providing essential social services to millions of citizens in non-democratic regimes worldwide. Despite the authoritarian nature of these regimes, these organizations continue to operate and provide vital assistance in areas such as medical care, schooling, child-rearing, and other critical social services. Understanding the factors that allow these organizations to thrive in such environments is essential to comprehending the dynamics of authoritarianism.

One reason why authoritarians may tolerate non-state organizations providing social services is that they can help manage economic crises. By offloading social welfare responsibilities to these organizations, authoritarians can reduce the financial burden on the state and avoid unpopular social spending cuts. This can be particularly appealing to authoritarian leaders who seek to maintain their grip on power by avoiding political instability.

However, the ability of non-state organizations to mobilize voters is often constrained by the nature of their clientele. Organizations that serve poorer citizens, motivated by either charity or clientelism, may be limited in their ability to mobilize voters because the poor rely on the state for many different goods. These organizations may face challenges in building strong relationships with their clients and in gaining political support.

In contrast, organizations that serve paying customers, such as private hospitals or schools, may have more opportunities to generate powerful, reputation-based linkages with a middle-class constituency. These organizations can provide high-quality, consistent, and effective services, which can build trust and loyalty among their customers. This type of provision can also generate political support, as middle-class voters are more likely to support providers who are seen as contributing to the betterment of society.

Steven Brooke's book "Winning Hearts and Votes" provides a compelling argument that authoritarians often seek to manage economic crises by offloading social welfare responsibilities to non-state providers. Brooke examines the case of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, which combines social service provision with electoral success. Through an in-depth examination of historical, qualitative, spatial, and experimental data, Brooke traces the Brotherhood's provision of medical services from its origins in the 1970s to its apogee during the country's brief democratic interlude in 2011-2013.

The book offers valuable insights into authoritarian regimes, party-voter linkages, clientelism, and the relationship between political parties and social movements. Brooke demonstrates how the Brotherhood's provision of medical services has helped to build a strong base of support among the middle class, which has contributed to its electoral success. The book also explores the challenges that the Brotherhood faced in maintaining its social services during periods of authoritarian rule period, such as the crackdown on the organization by the government of Hosni Mubarak.

Overall, "Winning Hearts and Votes" is a valuable contribution to the study of authoritarianism and social movements. By examining the case of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, Brooke provides a compelling argument that non-state organizations can play a crucial role in providing social services to millions of citizens in non-democratic regimes. The book offers valuable insights into the factors that allow these organizations to thrive and the challenges that they face in building political support.

Weight: 526g
Dimension: 213 x 321 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501730627