Analysis of worldwide research on clientelism: Origins, evolution, and trends
By: Guerrero-Sierra, Hugo Duque, Pedro and Niño, César
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Material type: 
BookPublisher: Social Science Information Description: 63(3), Sep, 2024: p.319-353.Subject(s): Political Science, Clientelism, Comparative Politics, Patron–Client Relations, Electoral Politics, Governance, Global Trends, Origins, Evolution, Political Sociology, Institutional Development
, Bibliometric analysis, Clientelism, Corruption, Democracy, Political elites, Political regime, Vote buying
In:
Social Science InformationSummary: This article provides a comprehensive overview of worldwide research on clientelism, tracing its origins, evolution, and contemporary trends. Clientelism, defined as the exchange of goods, services, or favors for political support, has historically shaped governance structures across diverse regions. The study highlights its roots in patron–client relations, where hierarchical social bonds facilitated political loyalty. Over time, clientelism evolved into more institutionalized forms, particularly in electoral politics, where vote-buying and targeted benefits became central mechanisms. Comparative research reveals variations in clientelistic practices across Latin America, South Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe, reflecting differences in state capacity, party systems, and socio-economic contexts. Recent scholarship emphasizes the decline of traditional clientelism in some regions due to modernization, urbanization, and stronger institutions, while noting its persistence and adaptation in others through digital platforms and welfare distribution. By synthesizing global research, the paper underscores clientelism’s dual role as both a stabilizing force in weak democracies and a barrier to institutional development, situating it within broader debates on governance, accountability, and democratic consolidation. Clientelism, deeply interwoven with critical societal issues such as democratic erosion, rising inequality, and persistent poverty, has further been spotlighted for its incendiary role in regions such as Latin America and Africa, where it acts as a catalyst for violence. Recognizing the profound implications of this topic in both contemporary and future dialogues, our article offers an in-depth examination through a two-pronged approach: a meticulous bibliometric analysis and an encompassing literature review. By leveraging various data and scientific mapping techniques, we aim to analyze the evolution of clientelism research, highlighting pivotal contributors and shifting paradigms. Our analysis notably underscores the preeminent role of U.S.-based institutions and scholars, a reflection of the nation’s foundational contributions to clientelism theory. Further enriching our study, we employ the ‘tree of science’ metaphor to identify seminal works, emphasizing prominent research avenues such as democracy, corruption, Latin America, and Africa. We conclude by mapping out prospective avenues for future research in this domain.- Reproduced
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/05390184241268381
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Articles
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Indian Institute of Public Administration | 63(3), Sep, 2024: p.319-353 | Available | AR133465 |
This article provides a comprehensive overview of worldwide research on clientelism, tracing its origins, evolution, and contemporary trends. Clientelism, defined as the exchange of goods, services, or favors for political support, has historically shaped governance structures across diverse regions. The study highlights its roots in patron–client relations, where hierarchical social bonds facilitated political loyalty. Over time, clientelism evolved into more institutionalized forms, particularly in electoral politics, where vote-buying and targeted benefits became central mechanisms. Comparative research reveals variations in clientelistic practices across Latin America, South Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe, reflecting differences in state capacity, party systems, and socio-economic contexts. Recent scholarship emphasizes the decline of traditional clientelism in some regions due to modernization, urbanization, and stronger institutions, while noting its persistence and adaptation in others through digital platforms and welfare distribution. By synthesizing global research, the paper underscores clientelism’s dual role as both a stabilizing force in weak democracies and a barrier to institutional development, situating it within broader debates on governance, accountability, and democratic consolidation. Clientelism, deeply interwoven with critical societal issues such as democratic erosion, rising inequality, and persistent poverty, has further been spotlighted for its incendiary role in regions such as Latin America and Africa, where it acts as a catalyst for violence. Recognizing the profound implications of this topic in both contemporary and future dialogues, our article offers an in-depth examination through a two-pronged approach: a meticulous bibliometric analysis and an encompassing literature review. By leveraging various data and scientific mapping techniques, we aim to analyze the evolution of clientelism research, highlighting pivotal contributors and shifting paradigms. Our analysis notably underscores the preeminent role of U.S.-based institutions and scholars, a reflection of the nation’s foundational contributions to clientelism theory. Further enriching our study, we employ the ‘tree of science’ metaphor to identify seminal works, emphasizing prominent research avenues such as democracy, corruption, Latin America, and Africa. We conclude by mapping out prospective avenues for future research in this domain.- Reproduced
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/05390184241268381
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