Abstract

ZAPATA OSORNO, Eucaris. Political Clientelism. A Diffuse Concept but Useful for the Analysis of Local Politics. Estud. Polit. [online]. 2016, n.49, pp.167-185. ISSN 0121-5167.  https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.espo.n49a09.

This article shows that even though the concept of political clientelism is diffuse, it is a good conceptual and methodological tool for the analysis of local politics. In the tradition, Political Science have produced some works from theoretical and empirical looks, that have helped to understand the phenomenon, as a mechanism of intermediation that develops through "clientelism networks", where in its inside, there are generated dynamic and work strategies to build relationships with the environment or citizens in general. In these relationships is where it is displayed its main mechanism: the sharing of resources. Clarity on these issues facilitates understanding the way how politics is practiced in Colombia and the logic that prevails today in the political system, over the competition for the power in local scenarios. To reach these conclusions, the study was based on qualitative methodology, with the document review strategy, which allowed making a permanent conceptual comparison.

Keywords : Clientelism; Patronage Networks; Local Politics; Political Intermediation; Political Representation.

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