Research Project of the Research Programme 1, supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG):

Persistence and Change of Neopatrimonialism in Various Non-OECD Regions

The concept of neopatrimonialism, a mix of rational-legal and patrimonial rule, is often used to describe the exercise of authority in non-OECD regions. Neopatrimonial systems are defined by the dominance of certain informal institutions over formal, state institutions. There are three main dimensions of neopatrimonial rule:

1. power concentration in the hands of patrons,
2. provision of personal favours through direct or indirect exchange between patrons and clients, and
3. particularistic use of state resources.

Existing research demonstrates that neopatrimonialism is highly flexible and resilient. Yet, the reasons for persistence and change of neopatrimonialism remain unclear. Political economy concepts imply that high rents from enclave economies, e.g. originating from mining, oil extraction or from Official Development Assistance (ODA), are responsible for the persistence of neopatrimonialism. Lowering rents in contrast could cause the change of neopatrimonialism. The project endeavours to systematically investigate the explanatory power of this political economy concept. It compares – with an identical analytical grid – one enclave with a non-enclave economy in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. In addition a set of five intervening variables is taken into account. The case studies are Zambia and Kenya, Venezuela and Argentina, Indonesia and the Philippines. The comparison will elicit systematic information about commonalities of and differences between the three regions and, in turn, will provide new insights about fundamental mechanisms, which are responsible for the persistence and change of neopatrimonialism. On a methodological level the main contribution of the project will be the operationalisation of neopatrimonialism.

The project is guided by four main research questions:

1. How can neopatrimonialism be adequately operationalised for systematic comparative research?
2. Which factors explain persistence and change of neopatrimonialism? Which general evidence can be generated?
3. Are there systematic differences and commonalities concerning the explanatory factors in the three regions Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia?
4. Are there systematic differences and commonalities between enclave and non-enclave economies?

Bibliography:

Selected Literature on the concept and manifestations of neopatrimonialim in various countries. (pdf)

Previous publications (Selection):

• Erdmann, Gero (2002a): Neo-Patrimonial Rule. Transition to Democracy has not succeeded. in: D+C Development and Cooperation 1, pp. 9-11.
• Erdmann, Gero (2002b): Neopatrimoniale Herrschaft – oder: Warum es in Afrika so viele Hybridregime gibt. [Neopatrimonial Rule – or: Why there are so many hybrid regimes in Africa] in: Bendel, Petra/Croissant, Aurel/Rüb, Friedbert (Ed.): Zwischen Demokratie und Diktatur. Zur Konzeption und Empirie demokratischer Grauzonen. [Between Democracy and Dictatorship. On the concept and empiricism of democratic grey areas]. Opladen: Leske and Budrich, pp. 323-342.
• Erdmann, Gero/Engel, Ulf (2007): Neopatrimonialism Reconsidered: Critical Review and Elaboration of an Elusive Concept, in: Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Studies, 45, 1, pp. 95-119 (Abstract).
• Erdmann, Gero/Engel, Ulf (2006): Neopatrimonialism Revisited - Beyond a Catch-All Concept, GIGA Working Paper No. 16 (Abstract / Full article).
• von Soest, Christian (2007): How Does Neopatrimonialism Affect the African State? The Case of Tax Collection in Zambia, in: Journal of Modern African Studies; 45, 4, pp. 621-645 (Abstract).
• von Soest, Christian (2006): How Does Neopatrimonialism Affect the African State? The Case of Tax Collection in Zambia, GIGA Working Paper No. 32 (Abstract / Full article).
• von Soest, Christian (2006): The African State and the Capability to Raise Revenue. A Comparative Study of the Tax Administration in Zambia and Botswana. Ph.D. thesis, University Leipzig

Applicants:

Dr. Christian von Soest, GIGA Institute of African Affairs (IAA)
Dr. Gero Erdmann, GIGA Institute of African Affairs (IAA)

Funding:

German Research Foundation (DFG)

Initial project duration:

01.06.2008 – 31.05.2010

Principal researchers:

Dr. Christian von Soest (Project Coordination, Africa case studies: Zambia and Kenya)
Karsten Bechle, M.A. (Latin America case studies: Venezuela and Argentina)
Nina Korte, M.A. (Southeast Asia case studies: Indonesia and the Philippines)

Research phases:

Presentations:

• Bechle, Karsten (2009): Out of Africa. Applying Neopatrimonialism to Latin America. Paper präsentiert auf dem 21st World Congress of the International Political Science Association (IPSA), Santiago, Chile, Juli 12. (Abstract)
• Korte, Nina (2009): Neopatrimonial politics and public administration reforms in Southeast Asia (paper giver), Young Scholars Workshop on Changing Governance in Asia, Center for Regulation and Governance, IIAS International Institute for Asian Studies, Leiden, The Netherlands, November 27.
• Korte, Nina (2009):. Does Neopatrimonialism hinder Reform? – Tax Administration in the Philippines and Indonesia. Paper präsentiert auf der 5th General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), Potsdam, Deutschland. September 12. (Abstract)
• Korte, Nina (2009): Describing Governance Structures in the Philippines – The Concept of Neopatrimonialism. Paper präsentiert auf der 2009 International Conference of the Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA), General Santos City, Mindanao, Philippinen, April 4. (Abstract)
• von Soest, Christian (2009): Comparing Neopatrimonialism: First Empirical Results from Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia and Implications for the Concept. Tabled Paper präsentiert auf der 5th General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), Potsdam, Deutschland. September 12. (Abstract / Full article)
• von Soest, Christian (2009): Informal Institutions Compared – Persistence and Change of Neopatrimonialism in Various World Regions. Poster präsentiert auf dem 2009 Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Political Science Association (APSA), Toronto, Kanada, September 4. (Abstract / Poster)

 
Publications:

• Amadi, Henry (2009): Persistence and Change of Neo-Patrimonialism in Post-Independence Kenya. Research Paper for Project "Persistence and Change of Neopatrimonialism in Various Non-OECD-Regions, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies. Nairobi, July 2009. (Full Article)
• Korte, Nina (2009): Unerfüllbare Erwartungen? Indonesiens Präsident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono startet in seine zweite Amtszeit, GIGA Focus Asien, Nr. 11/2009, Hamburg: GIGA. (Volltext / Full article)
• Scherlis, Gerardo (2009): Neopatrimonialism in Argentina: Persistence and Change. Research Paper for Project "Persistence and Change of Neopatrimonialism in Various Non-OECD-Regions, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies. Buenos Aires, April 2009. (Full Article)
• von Soest, Christian (2009): Stagnation of a “Miracle”: Botswana’s Governance Record Revisited, GIGA Working Paper, No. 99. (Abstract / Full article)
• von Soest, Christian (2009): The African State and Its Revenues. How Politics Influences Tax Collection in Zambia and Botswana. Baden-Baden: Nomos. (Abstract)

Other activities:

• Good Governance allein reicht nicht (German-language version only)
  GIGA starts a new research project „Persistence and Change of Neopatrimonialism in Various Non-OECD Regions“. Interview with Dr. Christian von Soest and Dr. Gero Erdmann (03.06.2008)
• Dr. Christian von Soest is a member of the International Advisory and Peer Review Panel (IARRP) of the Research Project „Pockets of Effectiveness in Nigeria: Exceptional Public Organisations and Democratic Change“ by the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation’s Nigeria Office. A workshop was conducted from September 10-13, 2009 in Lagos State, Nigeria.
• Dr. Gero Erdmann and Dr. Christian von Soest organised the Panel 215 „Informal institutions in the age of globalisation – different world regions compared” at the 5th General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), Potsdam, Germany. September 10-12, 2009.