Patronage Research Articles

Testing the effects of merit appointments and bureaucratic autonomy on governmental performance: Evidence from African bureaucracies

AbstractAppointing bureaucrats based on merit and protecting them from excessive political interference have become bedrocks of modern bureaucracy. Populist leaders throughout the world, however, are looking to undermine merit systems and politicize bureaucracies. This study analyzes the impact of merit‐based appointments and bureaucratic autonomy on service delivery effectiveness, using longitudinal data from a panel of African countries. Throughout Africa, social, economic, and political conditions have made it difficult for meritocratic and autonomous bureaucracies to take root and flourish as they have elsewhere. Despite these challenges, the study's main finding is that the practice of appointing bureaucrats based on merit has a positive effect on the provision of public services like transportation infrastructure, standardized education, drinking water, sanitation, and waste disposal. Political leaders undercutting meritocratic civil services and expanding patronage appointments do so at their own peril due to the adverse consequences of their actions on governmental performance. Little evidence is found of a relationship between bureaucratic autonomy and service delivery effectiveness.

The Ukrainian Gambit: The Sacking of L.H. Mel’nykov and the Post-Stalin Succession

A culminating moment in the post-Stalin struggle for power was the abrupt removal in May 1953 of the Ukrainian party boss Leonid Mel’nykov. With no clear succession procedure in place, the main contenders, Beria and Khrushchev, grasped for control over the institutions that might provide them a crucial advantage. Mel’nykov’s sacking became a focus of speculation in Cold War Kremlinology, viewed as a fatal political error by Beria. Utilising more recently available archival sources and the current scholarship of Soviet patronage politics and nationality policy, this article reassesses the clash over the Ukrainian SSR and the likely motivations of the primary actors.

Sudan's catastrophe: the role of changing dynamics of food and power in the Gezira agricultural scheme.

This article explores the role of historical, political, and economic processes in understanding war and famine in Sudan after 2023. The focus is on Al-Gezira, the site of Sudan's largest agricultural scheme. Using ethnography, interviews, and document reviews, the study analyses the Gezira irrigation project in three phases. First, the 1980s and 1990s, when patronage politics dominated its management. Second, the neoliberal strategies of the Gezira Scheme Act of 2005, which enabled Islamist profiteering while increasing vulnerability among farmers and labourers and tensions between them. Third, post 2018, when political movements used evidence of the scheme's deterioration to call for revolution, but once achieved, previous tensions grew and have been manipulated during the war. Sudan provides an example of how decades of war and neoliberal economic strategies have led to a deeply-rooted, violent, and extractive political economy. This has been to the benefit of business and elites, leaving many to a life of precarity, exploitation, and hunger.

The Impact of Transactional Politics on Papuan Ethnic Identity Politics in the Dynamics of the 2024 General Election in Manokwari Regency

The objective of this study is to investigate the perspectives of the Papuan ethnic group regarding the dynamics of identity politics in general elections, which frequently encompass aspirations related to identity politics. The term "Papuan ethnicity" refers to an identity within Papuan nationalism, symbolizing the mobilization and unification of Papuans. In the context of elections, the notion of Papuan ethnicity becomes a significant issue for electoral candidates, particularly for those who lack support from their fellow Papuans. Utilizing qualitative research methods and ethnographic approaches, this study explores the impact of transactional politics on the ethnic perspectives and political participation of Papuans during elections. It examines various factors, including the influence of political funding on voter preferences, the mobilization of ethnic groups for political backing, and the dynamics of inter-ethnic interactions within political disputes. The findings of this research aim to provide an in-depth understanding of the patterns of political aspirations in Papua and their implications for the consolidation of democracy in Indonesia.Keywords: identity politics, political aspirations, Papuan ethnicity, general elections

The politics of tinkering: developing the PISA assessment of global competence

ABSTRACT The popularity of OECD’s PISA tests as benchmarks for shaping global and national education policies is premised on its reputation for developing technically robust surveys by engaging leading experts who are untouched by politics. Drawing on the Science and Technology Studies (STS) subfield of the sociology of measurement, we illustrate how the view of these surveys as a-political and purely technical achievements is a myth. Using detailed documentary analysis supported by interviews with PISA insiders, we describe the interplay between technical expertise and political expertise in the development of the 2018 surveys of global competence. This paper highlights the challenge for the PISA insider group who must negotiate how to maintain scientific authority whilst gaining political backing and trust. We refer to the key strategy of ‘tinkering’ that is required to keep various actors aligned to the project through stages of development and moments of uncertainty.

Political involvement in street‐level policy implementation as a two‐way relationship—The effect of policy capacity

AbstractTo date, research on politicians’ influence on the work of street‐level bureaucrats (SLB) and the consequences for policy implementation has mainly focused on disruptive effects of political involvement—for instance, poorer social equity in public service provision or political patronage. Our study opens up this perspective and argues that the relationship between politicians and SLB is a two‐way relationship shaped by capacities of the stakeholders themselves and their organisational environment. We link SLB research with policy capacity literature. We focus on the effect of political capacity because this type of capacity meaningfully influences whether SLB can actively control the relationship with politicians. We ask: What is the relevance of political capacity for policy implementation? We use data from Swiss social assistance where the phenomenon of interest, that is the political involvement, is institutionalised by law within the implementing agencies. We show that political capacity at the organisational and individual level has a confidence‐building effect. SLB and politicians learn how to engage with each other and how to make the most of the exchange. Politicians gain a deeper understanding and are able to politically legitimise the policy.Points for practitioners Existing research on politicians’ influence on the work of street‐level bureaucrats (SLB) has mainly focused on disruptive effects of political involvement—for instance, poorer social equity in public service provision or political patronage. We show that the relationship between SLB and political actors can actually lead to ‘non‐disruptive’ or even positive effects on public service provision due to certain capacities of the stakeholders themselves and their institutional environment. We identify two types of capacity that foster a constructive relationship between SLB and politicians: organisational and individual political capacity. Organisational political capacity: The institutional or organisational setting within which SLB and politicians implement public policy and provide public services can promote regular exchange and cooperation between these two types of stakeholders to a greater or lesser extent—or even require it (e.g. by law). If the setting is conducive, constructive contact between SLB and politicians takes place during policy implementation. Thus, SLB and politicians know each other and know how to interact, which enhances trust among them and mutual understanding of their respective duties, challenges, and interests. Individual political capacity arises from this as SLB learn how to use this contact for their needs, that is to obtain and sustain political support for their policy actions. Politicians also benefit from the exchange because they gain a deeper understanding of the respective policy and feel more confident in representing it towards the public and the politics. In short, the findings show how capacity at different levels may reinforce each other. The organisational context can promote political capacity through regular contact between SLB and politicians. Actors have to learn to work with each other and thereby enhance their individual political capacity.

Royally (Dis-)Endowed

This paper explores the unique role of Syon Abbey and the Birgittine Order in England from their founding in 1415 until the dissolution of monasteries in 1539. By examining its foundation, wealth, and influence, the study reveals how Syon Abbey stood apart from other English monastic institutions. Despite Henry VIII’s dissolution of monasteries, Syon’s royal patronage and reputation among the nobility and lay piety allowed it to resist until the very end. As the only Birgittine monastery in Britain, Syon played a crucial role in England's religious and social landscape. The paper also investigates the aftermath of the dissolution, focusing on the fate of Syon's monks and nuns and its broader impact.

A review of Indonesia's JETP through the dynamics of its policy regime

AbstractDuring its 2022 G20 presidency, Indonesia committed to reducing carbon emissions through the Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). In addition to other policies, the Partnership is designed to drive the country's broader energy transition and net‐zero aspirations for decades to come. In addition to technical challenges, the Partnership is expected to face social and political resistance. Considering its importance for Indonesia's sustainable development and gaining support from influential stakeholders, this paper examines the JETP through the lens of a policy regime framework, drawing on insights from the country's multi‐decade fossil fuel subsidy reforms (FFSR) – a comparable effort to drive significant changes in energy use. It highlights the critical role of navigating political, social, and regulatory realities that have contributed to the successes or failures of policy reforms. The policy appraisal suggests the need for significant reconsideration of its broader policy‐regime context, specifically political, social, and regulatory factors, to ensure the successful implementation of the JETP and Indonesia's energy transition in general. Furthermore, the paper offers relevant policy recommendations to assist advocates and administrations supporting the Partnership in broadening its appeal beyond environmental concerns to secure stronger social and political backing.

Exploring Action Research Sponsorship: Role and Enactment

This paper explores the complexities of involving partner organisations in co-generative learning processes within Action Research (AR) initiatives. Despite formal agreements, action researchers often face challenges in collaboratively addressing specific organisational issues through AR cycles. When action researchers adopt the “friendly outsider’ role, their initial task is to secure commitment to an AR initiative from senior leaders as sponsors. However, the existing literature lacks comprehensive guidance on facilitating this commitment. Therefore, drawing from both literature and empirical cases, this paper examines the pivotal role of the AR sponsor in securing funding and political backing, offering constructive critique, and facilitating learning. It provides insights into how action researchers can facilitate sponsors to enact these roles effectively so as to ensure the success and sustainability of organisational changes resulting from AR initiatives.

The politics of beneficiary selection: A case study of Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash transfer programme

In communities of Sub-Saharan Africa, where local elites participate in the selection of households for cash transfers, there is a tendency to deviate from laid down rules for various reasons. Using qualitative data from selected districts where Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme is implemented, this study investigates the reasons why district and community elites deviate from prescribed selection processes of the LEAP programme. Drawing on the concept of competitive clientelism, the findings suggest that elites are deeply guided by political patronage to fulfil one primary goal, protecting their role in office. Such ambition is facilitated by the discretionary power accorded to elites by the local government system and socio-cultural values deeply rooted in Ghanaian society. In conclusion, the study draws out key lessons from the analysis and suggests a design of beneficiary selection frameworks that acknowledges the nature of domestic politics, institutions of power and powerful actors at the subnational level. The article also highlights the implications of the findings for the broad politics of social protection literature.

The French Leçons de Ténèbres and the Foundation of the Jansenist Music Criticism

Abstract The spread of the Leçons de ténèbres in the French capital and later in large provincial cities contributed to the evolution of musical practices and the listeners’ sensibilities and favored the incorporation of religious music into secular musical calendars. This explains why, from the end of the seventeenth century, the genre has been the focus of criticism from clerics and lay people of different persuasions, who denounced the contamination of the church by opera, using the conventional argument of antitheatricality. Initially focused on the Lessons, the criticism’s terms and arguments used against the Lessons became instrumental in the Jansenist’s critique of modern music throughout the eighteenth century, particularly to contest Jesuit musical patronage and Jesuits’ sensualist conception of music for religious services. While Jansenist criticism portrays an irreducible opposition between opponents and supporters of modern music, the latter being equated with the Jesuits, the article highlights the ambiguities of Jansenist positions. An analysis of these criticisms reveals a double reference to the Augustinian tradition, on the one hand concerning the opposition between musica luxuriantis and musica sapientis and, on the other, a moral reflection on musical pleasure’s legitimacy based on individual introspection. In the second half of the eighteenth century, the condemnation of all modern forms of religious music appeared to contradict the claim to a part of this Augustinian heritage.

It Takes a Movement: Lawyers, Litigation, and Legal Theory in the Attack on Campaign Finance Reform

Abstract Recent Supreme Court decisions have hobbled campaign finance regulation and placed significant constitutional constraints on possible future reforms. But the Supreme Court has not acted alone. Major constitutional changes often require a substantial legal and political infrastructure, an ecosystem of actors, ideas, strategies, and tactics to instantiate new constitutional doctrine into law. In Big Money Unleashed, Ann Southworth examines the composition, development, organization, and intellectual underpinning of the legal movement that has worked to cripple campaign finance regulation. She chronicles the raising and testing of the key legal theories; the sources of political and financial backing for the movement; the combination of disparate groups into an antireform coalition; and the organization of what has proven to be a very effective litigation strategy. The result, she explains, has been the ascendancy of a powerful constitutional discourse that treats money as speech, campaign spending as freedom, and government regulation as censorship. The antireform litigation campaign on its own would not have been enough to transform the law; key appointments to the Supreme Court were essential. But the movement provided the Court with the cases, the arguments, and broader political support that are part of constitutional change.

Nobody is leaving! Ottoman officials, their families and the struggle over Ottoman imperial sovereignty in Yemen after the Mudros Armistice, 1918–1924

ABSTRACT This article explores the struggles over Ottoman sovereignty in Yemen from the October 1918 armistice to the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in October 1923. The governor-general (vali), Mahmud Nedim, and Imam Yahya, the principal local ally of the Ottomans, succeeded in upholding Ottoman sovereignty over most of highland Yemen against the Armistice terms, the Treaty of Sèvres, and their local and British rivals, while receiving the political backing of the Ottoman resistance movement in Anatolia under Mustafa Kemal. Efforts of the vali, the imam, and the British to prevent ordinary Ottomans from leaving and entering Yemen were at the centre of these struggles. This changed in 1923 when Mustafa Kemal and Yahya turned to state-building projects emphasising post-Ottoman forms of sovereignty. I thus highlight several aspects of ordinariness. First, the continuation of daily governmental routines in Yemen was a key element of Ottoman efforts to resist British attempts to impose a post-Ottoman political order. Further, Yemeni Ottomans and Ottoman officials were reduced to different degrees of ordinariness because the disintegration of the Ottoman state after the war often eliminated their sources of income. Finally, struggles against the consequences of the Armistice are often reduced to a ‘Turkish War of Independence’ and the actions of policy makers in administrative centres, like Istanbul and Ankara. Studying the end of the Ottoman Empire from the vantage points of Yemen’s ‘spatial ordinariness’ as an imperial borderland and of ordinary Ottomans disrupts this ‘methodological nationalism’ and allows for a more nuanced understanding of the post-Armistice years.

The writing on the wall: Identity, placemaking and territoriality in Karachi's graffiti culture

This article explores the spatiality of political graffiti and urban murals and the role they play in placemaking, territoriality and identity building amongst Karachi's migrant communities. From Independence in 1947 to the present day, the city has been the site of several waves of in-migration, both domestic and international, resulting in a migrant megacity. Through shared migration experiences and cultural heritage, political patronage and spatial clustering, communities have consolidated and reimagined ethnic identities into political ones. These ethno-political entities demarcate territories of dominance and spaces of tension using political graffiti. This tool for placemaking and territory marking is an urban declaration of power on the walls of the city. More recently, political graffiti has been deliberately replaced by civil society actors in the form of murals changing the provocative ethno-political sloganeering to a nationalistic counter narrative. With multiple actors – political and apolitical - sentiments and stories now vying for space through their occupation of the city's walls, these surfaces become spaces of declaration, dialogue and at times, erasure. Through a process of diachronic documentation, this article shows that the walls of the city are a palimpsest of political opinion and identity; each subsequent layer in dialogue with the layer that precedes it. The authors of each layer through a process of placemaking, construct, deconstruct and reconstruct narratives of identity, ownership and belonging.

Overcoming the Patronage System: Propaganda Fide and Its Portuguese Patronage Documents on China in the Early Modern Period

From its foundation in 1622, the Congregation de Propaganda Fide held supreme jurisdiction over all missionary activities of the Catholic Church at the global level, with authority coming directly from the pope. Its main goals were the expansion of the Catholic faith, the reaffirmation of papal spiritual primacy, and the promotion of Indigenous clergy throughout the world, which put Propaganda Fide in direct competition with secular rulers who also wanted to control missionary activities in their overseas territories. This article will examine one such conflict, namely that regarding Portugal and its royal patronage system in China. The Historical Archive of Propaganda Fide in the Vatican City holds extensive material concerning Portuguese patronage and China, which has remained relatively unknown and understudied. Through an examination of several of the most significant documents, such as the formal terms sent by the Portuguese court to the Holy See, the response of Propaganda Fide, and the final declaration of the Holy See, which would become the cornerstone for all future decisions over the patronage system, it is suggested that these negotiations about China are in fact central to a wider shift in global Catholic policy and politics in the field of missionary activity.

Political Dichotomy and Disciplinary Processes of Employees in Local Government Administration, A Case of Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, in Mopani District of Limpopo Province in South Africa

Political dichotomy in the disciplinary processes of local government employees has significant implications for governance and service delivery. This study focuses on the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality in the Mopani District of Limpopo Province, South Africa, to explore how political affiliations and influences shape disciplinary outcomes. Using qualitative research methods, including interviews and document analysis, the study uncovers the extent to which political considerations override procedural fairness, leading to inconsistent disciplinary measures. The findings emphasize the need for depoliticized disciplinary frameworks to enhance administrative efficiency and integrity in local governance. Political patronage and interference have been shown to affect employee morale and organizational culture negatively. In the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, specific cases of political favouritism and bias have resulted in either undue leniency or harsh disciplinary actions. This study contributes to the understanding of the intricate relationship between politics and administration, highlighting the detrimental effects of political influence on the principles of accountability and transparency in local government. This research is unique in its detailed case study approach, providing a micro-level analysis that offers insights into broader national and regional trends in local government administration. It also proposes practical recommendations to mitigate political interference in disciplinary processes. By ensuring fair and consistent application of disciplinary procedures, local municipalities can improve service delivery and foster a more positive work environment.

Assessing Malaysian Health Care Reform

This study assesses the healthcare reform in Malaysia since its independence. Previous studies and official reports on healthcare reform were analyzed through content analysis. The discussion starts with geographical and socioeconomic factors, then moves to the inception of the Malaysian Health Care System, focusing on the development of primary health system reform initiatives in the country. This paper illustrates the rigorous journey of system reform, emphasizing that political commitment and backing from stakeholders and citizens are vital for its success

Analisis Framing Pemberitaan Online Amsakar Achmad sebagai Calon Walikota Batam Potensial pada Media Online Batampos.co.id dan Batamnews.co.id

This study aims to identify and analyze the framing used by BatamPos.co.id and BatamNews.co.id in their coverage of Amsakar Achmad as a candidate for Mayor of Batam, compare the framing employed by these two media outlets, and assess the impact of such framing on public perception. This qualitative research utilizes framing analysis based on framing theory. Primary data consists of news articles from BatamPos.co.id and BatamNews.co.id published during the period of May-June 2024. Secondary data is derived from literature related to framing theory and previous studies. Data collection was conducted through purposive sampling, and analysis was performed by identifying main themes, categorizing the news coverage, and evaluating the impact of framing on public perception. The analysis reveals that the framing of news about Amsakar Achmad on BatamPos.co.id tends to emphasize strong political support, popularity, and Amsakar’s concrete visions and programs. In contrast, BatamNews.co.id focuses more on Amsakar’s direct interactions with the public, local community support, and political communication. Both media construct a positive image of Amsakar, albeit with different approaches. BatamPos.co.id creates the perception that Amsakar is a strong candidate with solid political backing and a clear plan for Batam’s progress, while BatamNews.co.id portrays Amsakar as a leader who is close to the people, adaptive, and collaborative. This research provides insights into how media framing can influence public perception of political candidates.

The Effectiveness of Indonesia's Anti-Corruption Law on Legal Reform and Implementation

This study examines the efficacy of Indonesia's anti-corruption legislation in the wider framework of legislative restructuring and its execution. The paper investigates the legal frameworks and regulatory measures implemented to combat corruption, using a normative juridical analysis. The primary objective is to examine the impact of these laws on legal reform, evaluate their enforcement, and highlight the problems encountered in their practical implementation. The results demonstrate substantial advancements in legislative actions, but also underscore enduring barriers in execution, such as legal ambiguities, administrative stagnation, and corruption within law enforcement entities. This study highlights the importance of implementing comprehensive legal reforms and strong policies to improve the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures in Indonesia. Guidelines are given to promote future anti-corruption efforts by improving the legislative framework, increasing institutional capability, and cultivating political backing.

Rethinking Human Resources in Public Administration: An Empirical Analysis of the Problem of the Ineffective Usage of Human Resources in the Public Sector

The purpose of this study is to explore the possible causes and consequences of the problem of ineffective utilization of human resources in the public sector, with reference to the philosophy of "Let the people live so that the state may live", through the extreme example of passive public servants in the public sector, who are also characterized as " benched ". The lack of research focusing on the ineffective usage of human resources in Turkish public administration requires the study to use a research design with a strong exploratory aspect. The importance of this study is to contribute to the knowledge in the focus on the problem of effective use of human resources, which has been constantly mentioned but has not been empirically investigated until now. It is possible to be carried out within the framework of the study to collect and analyze data more easily, especially on sensitive issues such as inactive public officials. Qualitative case design allows to obtain detailed information about a particular social/administrative situation, event, or group and to make unique discoveries about problems. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 47 public employees in the study sample. The reasons for the ineffective usage of human resources can be summarized as follows; Political patronage relations, nepotism, incompetence, unawareness, etc. Consequences of ineffective usage of human resources can be summarized as; loss of motivation and possible job dissatisfaction and problems of person-environment fit, financial weakness, loss of national performance, loss of confidence, loss of individual performance, and inefficiency.