Abstract
The aim of the article is to investigate the phenomenon of state capture from a political perspective. In the literature, discussions around state capture areprincipally done from an economic context, not from a political perspective. The viewpoint in the article is that a more multi-faceted political approach is necessary, because the eroding of the role of the state is essentially a political problem. The phenomenon of state capture should therefore receive more scholarly attention within the political sciences, so the focus of this article is on addressing the problem of state capture within a political context. Here, the link between corruption and state capture is outlined and the difference between the two concepts is shown to be only a matter of degree.In the case of corruption the outcome is uncertain, while in the event of state capture the outcome is more definite as a result of the control an external agent exerts over a political functionary. The article also addresses the important tipping point, when a weak state – with high levels of corruption – lapses into a dysfunctional state. The finding is that the degradation from a weak to a dysfunctional state occurs during state capture when resource allocation – a core function of government – is controlled by outside agents. In the concluding section reference is made to the Public Protector’s report and its alignment with the theoretical features of state capture.
Highlights
Background to the research questionIn the subject disciplines of politics and political sciences, the overview of the concept ‘state capture’ occupies a minor or subservient position in the literature
An analysis of the foundational literature in the political sciences shows that the concept receives little to no scholarly attention
The degradation of South Africa from a weak to a dysfunctional state occurred when high levels of corruption accelerated with the advent of state capture in this country
Summary
In the subject disciplines of politics and political sciences, the overview of the concept ‘state capture’ occupies a minor or subservient position in the literature. The disconcerting aspect is that the presence of an adverse relationship controlling primary functionaries in government supersedes the needs of the poor and needy in society In this development, the fear of a leviathan state is replaced by a new concern in the form of powerful oligarchs whose self-serving nature manipulates and shapes institutions to their own advantage, allowing them to expand and protect their empires at the expense of the country’s citizenry (Hellman, Jones and Kaufman 2005: 752). The system of patrimony is already firmly rooted within the South African landscape, manifesting itself in high levels of corruption This scenario relates to a weak but not dysfunctional state, because the monopoly over resources is still located in the hands of political functionaries. The appointment of senior political functionaries as ministers is still located in the hands of the primary political functionary as the leader of the government
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