Everyday Latin American Politics Summary

Clientelism in Everyday Latin American Politics by Tina Hilgers gives a welcoming dynamic on what is the relationship between Clientelism and Democracy. The aim of this book is to go beyond the traditional perspective of Clientelism “is a vestige of authoritarian regimes that undermines democratic institutions and processes” (p.4). As such Hilgers attempts to present the different ways in which Clientelism “may or may not undermine democracy” (p.5). The main argument in this book is that “Clientelism can erode, accompany, and or supplement democratic processes”. (p.5). Hilgers moves away from the assumption that Clientelism is contextually embedded and for Hilgers to strengthen her argument, then therefore has book included applicable points

Hilgers gives a literature review and analysis of contemporary research on Clientelism. She attempts to refine the “concept of creation” (p.163) that was originally proposed by Sartori, Collier and Mahon. Hilgers recalls everything that been defined as Clientelism, e.g. “vote-buying, pork-barreling, bribery, corruption, Clientelism, patronage, friendship, violence, and machine politics under the general heading of Clientelism as fair due to family resemblance” (p.168). Hilgers recognizes that there is a single driving factor that bring together the different types of Clientelism, “they all involve a more or less sinister misappropriation of public goods and misuse of representation that should, ideally, be available universally” (p.168). This section has made an attempt to analyze Clientelism at all three levels i.e. relationship level, the organizational level, and the state (system)

After intensively analysing these proposals in depth, Hilgers argues that Clientelism remains tricky