Clientelism in decentralized states

León-Ciliotta, Gianmarco; Wantchekon, Leonard

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/9781108615594.010

Clientelism in decentralized states

Citation

León G, Wantchekon L. Clientelism in decentralized states. In: Rodden JA, Wibbels E, editors. Decentralized governance and accountability: academic research and the future of donor programming. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2019. p. 229-47. DOI: 10.1017/9781108615594.010

Abstract

Clientelistic networks and decentralization share common organizational features and interact in different ways. They are both multi-tiered structures plagued with agency issues. In this chapter we study these links, reviewing the current scholarship and emphasizing how the different features of political decentralization affect clientelistic politics, and point to avenues for future research. In particular, we emphasize the role clientelistic networks and upward and downward accountability play in undermining programmatic politics. We finally provide a brief analysis of the role local bureaucracies can play in counterbalancing the efficiency losses introduced by clientelistic politics in decentralized states.