OLD PATRONS AND NEW SOME NOTES ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF PATRONAGE FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS1

Abstract

SummaryOld Patrons and NewIn societies where patronage occurs it is found in all social strata; it does not disappear with the suppression of rural poverty. This article deals with the various ways in which patronage may manifest itself during and after the execution of local development projects. It is argued that the agency which executes the project will itself often be assigned the role of patron; that the disruption of traditional local power relationships may lead to new political alliances at the regional and national level; and that, even if patronage is suppressed locally, the institution will continue to exist in the wider society. Recourse to it will therefore remain unavoidable if the community wants to obtain new facilities which it cannot pay for itself. For this reason it is held that the agency which executes the project should not withdraw after the completion of the work but should remain and continue to play the role of patron to the community. In this way, two goals may be accomplished: 1) a local relapse into the old social structure (i.e. the emergence of a new local boss) can be prevented, and 2) allowance is made for the fact that at the regional and national level patronage still discharges important functions.