Neopatrimonialism

Under neo-patrimonialism is a particularly common in Africa to more aptly called rule type, which can be viewed as a hybrid of classic patrimonial and legal- rational rule (according to Max Weber's typology of domination ). As a type of regime he is somewhere between autocracy and democracy. Significant components of neo-patrimonialism are clientelism and political patronage.

Definition

In the Weberian typology rule is the patrimonialism, as a type of traditional rule, characterized by the submission to the authority of a person who is exerted by tradition and a ( military ) administrative staff. Under rational- legal domination the arbitrariness of any person is replaced by an impersonal order ( bureaucracy) and the separation of private and public sphere.

In neo-patrimonial systems, there are elements of these two types. The public rules (laws, standards) are indeed formalized its practical exercise but usually conveys personal and informal level. The back and forth between two ' logics ' causes a persistent behavioral and expectation uncertainty of the population.

Effects and Trademark

The personal despotism that prevails also in neo-patrimonial systems, is associated with authoritarian politics and the economy inefficient form of rent-seeking economy. Under these conditions, only gives the public officials the opportunity also to be economically successful. Clientelism and political patronage relationships are the result.

While in the historical, patrimonial clientelism a patron a client a scarce resource such as security, livestock, land, water, etc. against, often only symbolic, presented services available, also public goods and services such as education, loans, licenses, and not least public functions are assigned in neo-patrimonial clientelism that have a significant redistributive effect. Specifically, the political clientelism is often encountered in the services and resources for political support, such as electoral votes ( of electoral clientelism ), be ' exchanged '.

With political patronage is referred to only by specific social groups, usually moored in Africa ethnic groups, the advantages granted, which are not publicly and politically motivated. Widespread corruption and favors relatives ( nepotism ) are among other consequences.

Examples

Neo-patrimonial regimes are, for example, Cameroon, Kenya, Zimbabwe, but also in Indonesia, Colombia and the Palestinian territories.