Clientelism and Democracy

1
Clientelism and Democracy

• In Latin America and Brazil

2
Definition of Clientelism

• A hierarchical exchange relationship between
  actors of different social status and wealth

3
History of Favelas

• 1850-1945 Initial growth
• 1945-1962 Some consolidation
• 1962-1974 Removal
• 1974-1986 Measured victory

4
Victory after 1974 based on...

• Political liberalization
• Financial assistance from International NGOs
• Militant Favela Movement
• 1982 elections

5
Favelas as Political Machines

• Many votes
• Poorly educated populace
• Vulnerable population
• Cheap votes

6
Cabo Eleitoral

• Political Boss
• Arranges votes for candidates
• Acts as liaison between candidates and populace
• Not an equal relationship (clientelistic)

7
Politics in Vila Brasil

• Neighborhood association
• President
• Political participation kept at minimum

8
Politics in Vidigal

• Neighborhood association highly organized
• Run by a directorate of 20 volunteers
• Convenes twice a week
• Steadfastly refuses to exchange votes for favors

9
Conclusion?
10
Traditional Politics

• Implies a system of political organization that
  is authoritarian in the sense that political
  power is narrowly concentrated, access to
  decision making is restricted, channels of
  political representation are arranged
  hierarchically, and political competition is
  strictly regulated.

11
Symptoms

• Non-ideological parties
• Patron-client dominated
• Oligarchs in control of parties
• Organized along territorial lines

12
Implications

• Even with democratization, still the inability to
  deal with
• Land reform
• Privatization
• Constitutional reform

13
How traditional politics survived

• Growth of the state
• Politicians were granted certain ministries
• Military regime sought electoral support
• Traditional elites knew when to jump
• Electoral Law

14

• What are the implications of the arguments being
  made by Hagopian and Gay?

15

• Is clientelism simply the developing worlds
  version of democracy?

16
Revisiting Brazil