Concept—Concept—Interest Interest

AggregationAggregationPatron-Client Patron-Client

Interest Aggregation Interest Aggregation Interest aggregation is the activity in which Interest aggregation is the activity in which

the demands of individuals and groups are the demands of individuals and groups are combined into policy programs. combined into policy programs.

A specific program becomes politically A specific program becomes politically significant when it is backed up by substantial significant when it is backed up by substantial political resources, such as popular votes, political resources, such as popular votes, commitments of campaign funds, seats in the commitments of campaign funds, seats in the legislature, positions of executive influence, legislature, positions of executive influence, media access, or even armed force. media access, or even armed force. Personal impact of dictatorPersonal impact of dictator Political parties Political parties

Democratic v. authoritarian system Democratic v. authoritarian system

Interest Aggregation Interest Aggregation

Patron ClientPatron Client Personal interest aggregation Personal interest aggregation Patron client defined as a structure in which Patron client defined as a structure in which

a central officeholder, authority figure, or a central officeholder, authority figure, or group provides benefits to supporters in group provides benefits to supporters in exchange for their loyalty. exchange for their loyalty.

Was the defining principle of feudalism Was the defining principle of feudalism The primitive structure of all politics The primitive structure of all politics When interest aggregation is predominantly When interest aggregation is predominantly

performed by patron-client ties, this affects performed by patron-client ties, this affects the style of the political process = static the style of the political process = static political system. political system.

Patron Client Patron Client Mexican political system is permeated with Mexican political system is permeated with

patron client relationships patron client relationships The “patrons”—persons having higher The “patrons”—persons having higher

political status—provide benefits such as political status—provide benefits such as protection, support in political struggles protection, support in political struggles with rivals and chances for upward political with rivals and chances for upward political or economic mobility to their “clients”—or economic mobility to their “clients”—persons having lesser political status. persons having lesser political status. Clients provide loyalty, deference, and useful Clients provide loyalty, deference, and useful

services like voter mobilization, political control, services like voter mobilization, political control, and problem solving to their patrons within the and problem solving to their patrons within the official party or governmental bureaucracy. official party or governmental bureaucracy.

Apex of relationship—national authority Apex of relationship—national authority structurestructure Mexican President – presidencialismo Mexican President – presidencialismo

Patron Client and Patron Client and Camarilla Camarilla

Vertical grouping of several different levels of patron Vertical grouping of several different levels of patron client relationships in Mexico is camarilla— “political client relationships in Mexico is camarilla— “political clique”clique”

Largest and most important camarillas—those Largest and most important camarillas—those reaching the presidential cabinet—typically have been reaching the presidential cabinet—typically have been assembled over a long period of time, through an assembled over a long period of time, through an elaborate process of personal alliance building. elaborate process of personal alliance building.

Role of the sexenio – one six year term for president – Role of the sexenio – one six year term for president – stabilizing conflict among leaders stabilizing conflict among leaders

Basic element that binds camarillas together is Basic element that binds camarillas together is personal loyalty to the camarilla rather than ideology. personal loyalty to the camarilla rather than ideology.

One major consequence of this elite structure—One major consequence of this elite structure—responsiveness and accountability of officials to the responsiveness and accountability of officials to the ruling party’s “mass constituencies” and to the ruling party’s “mass constituencies” and to the general public is greatly diminished. general public is greatly diminished.

Even for elected officeholders, the official’s only real Even for elected officeholders, the official’s only real constituency is his boss—his principal patron constituency is his boss—his principal patron

State CorporatismState Corporatism

Government mediates among different Government mediates among different groups – no one gets too much power – groups – no one gets too much power – divide and conquerdivide and conquer

PRI divided Mexico into labor, middle PRI divided Mexico into labor, middle class and peasant classesclass and peasant classes

PAN emerged to protect business PAN emerged to protect business interestsinterests

Now? Neo-corporatism (interests Now? Neo-corporatism (interests control), pluralism (interests have input)control), pluralism (interests have input)

The Rent is Too Damn The Rent is Too Damn HighHigh

Rents – economic term for Rents – economic term for government rewards based on government rewards based on contacts/relationships not contacts/relationships not competitivenesscompetitiveness

Rent seeking – interest groups Rent seeking – interest groups seeking public policy favorsseeking public policy favors

Recall Recall guanxiguanxi in China in China Nigeria – prebends/prebendalismNigeria – prebends/prebendalism