Ch.3 - Neopatrimonialism

Question 1

What was the logic of instrumentalisation of disorder?

Answer 1

By neglecting bureaucracies, political elites can respond to demands through dyadic exchanges: protection and assistance in exchange for political support

Question 2

What is elite co-option?

Answer 2

A strategy used by political elites to weaken opposition groups by buying off group leaders (appointments, contracts, etc.). The goal is essentially to incorporate dissents into state patronage networks and in turn group leaders urge others to stop opposing the regime.

Question 3

Neo-patrimonialism enjoyed legitimacy among elites and citizens. How did both groups use the system?

Answer 3

Political elites: sought to distribute state resources to support base in order to remain in power and keep a portion of state benefits to themselves

Citizens: sought to elect representatives who they viewed as agents whose job is to bring state benefits (jobs, loans, cash, etc.) to their local community

Question 4

When are neo-patrimonial systems most unstable?

Answer 4

During times of political or economic crises, especially when faced with a group that is both marginalized and organized.

Question 5

What determines a neo-patrimonial regime’s duration?

Answer 5

Ability to:
1) effectively manage political opponents

2) ensure that sufficient resources are trickled down to their clients

Question 6

What is the legitimate of patrons in neo-patrimonial regimes based on?

Answer 6

Their ability to satisfy their clientele.

Question 7

What negative consequence does the instrumentalisation of disorder have on the state?

Answer 7

Negligence of developing state institutions impacted regime’s ability to crush rebellions.

Question 8

What kind of economic policies increased the likelihood of economic crises?

Answer 8

1) closed markets
2) distortion of key prices
3) heavy control of markets and industry

Question 9

What are the pathways to violence in neo-patrimonial systems?

Answer 9

1) economic or political crisis

2) democratization (transition from pure autocracy)

Question 10

What external factor can increase chance of economic crises?

Answer 10

Withdrawal of aid from donors; hence a loss of a crucial source of revenue.

Question 11

What are consequences of less benefits trickling down on regime security?

Answer 11

Less benefits = loss of legitimacy = increasing chance of revolt from below

Question 12

What is the major objective of most armed groups facing a neo-patrimonial regime?

Answer 12

To gain control of resources and commercial networks that sustain patrimonial systems

Question 13

What often reduced the ability of regimes to fight off rebellions?

Answer 13

Paranoid African leaders often kept their armies weak and ill equipped and therefore unable to fight off rebellions

Question 14

Are political and economic crises inevitable?

Answer 14

It’s possible for NP regimes to experience economic/political crises and avoid civil war. Groups with grievances still need to overcome collective action problems (think feasibility thesis)

Question 15

What increases the risk of political crisis?

Answer 15

When segments of the population feel relatively deprived or excluded from political processes that affect them

Question 16

The existence of grievances alone doesn’t produce an insurgency. What do marginalized groups need to be able to do in order to launch a rebellion?

Answer 16

1) organize and retain followers
2) be adequately armed
3) avoid early defeat

Question 17

What makes democratization a pathway to violence?

Answer 17

The introduction of open contestation into a political environment defined by polarized winner-takes-all political competition increases likelihood of conflict as groups struggle for political power in order to promote particularistic agendas.