Patron-Client Politics Essay

In most countries, g all overnmental participation is an big aspect in government and citizen kinship. Citizen participation is very essential in any sphere to ensure that the government is properly delivering its responsibilities to the plenty. This is why on that point atomic number 18 many avenues that are created and some that are still creation explored, which will make hoi polloi to actively participate in semipolitical issues. However, there are some regimes wherein the channel for political participation is non open.Being the case, there is a different way by which people could participate in political relation without the direct involvement that is most apparent in a democratic form of governance. This is greatly exemplified by the conception of patron-client politics. Patron-client politics is defined as the consanguinitys wherein patrons that belong to the high status in society turn in protection and resources to pooh-pooh status clients. In doing so, the patrons contract the clients for their votes and bear in exchange for what they give.The power that the patrons have is very ripe in negotiating their interests with the government. These in black-tie hierarchies of patron-client networks provide ordinary people a foregather with formal politics (Wai-man, 2007). Patrons are often composed of government officials, landlords, employers, pagan leaders, and party leaders (Wai-man, 2007). There are instances that patrons also act as intermediary agents of control that paved the way for the socialization between the people and the state (Wai-man, 2007).On the other hand, clients are those people that belong in the lower status of the society. These people do not possess broad resources unlike the patrons, which is why they are dependent upon the patrons in high society to provide for their demand. In most developing countries, the majority of the citizens are regarded as clients term the small portion of their population is the h igher course of study patrons. According to Grabowski, Self, and Shields (2007), patron-client politics is based on illegitimacy.This is because such network is grounded on the face-to-face interactions between patrons and clients rather than the formal adherence to rules and regulations. In order for this kind of political structure to work, the ruling elects that mostly compose the patrons should have control over government institutions. In this case, the patrons could influence the government to make policies that are for their birth benefit. This is why the clients are put in a dis good set up because the allocation of resources is dependent upon the patrons.They could only get some of these resources if they follow and support their patrons. Most of the time, the clients usually acquire an unfair portion of these resources that the patrons give. Being the case, the clients are always under the control of the patrons. Nevertheless, there are also advantageous effects that t he clients could achieve from such political set-up. The clients can get the prerequisite resources in order to sustain their needs. Moreover, this is also a way by which the client could be able to participate in political processes.The formal political structure of the state of Mexico is applicable in the development of patron-client relationship within the country. 10 percent of the Mexican population belongs to the upper class that is composed of the countrys business executives and government leaders. The lower heavens of the country, which consists of the majority of the citizens are made up of industrial workers, informal-sector employees and peasants (The Library of sexual intercourse Country Studies, 1996).This kind of social structure supports the concept of patron-client politics because the elite class holds the resources as well as the power that enables them to put the lower class under their control. They could easily give resources to the lower class that needs it in order to get their support in return. Furthermore, unequal statistical distribution of income within Mexicos society proves that patron-client relationship already exists in the country.Patron-client relationship is not only dependent on the political situation of the country but it is also linked with the social structure of the country. This interaction exists when a small portion of the society controls the resources and the political power in order to dominate others. The presence of the lower class that requires the necessary aid for their commonplace living also further supports this kind of relationship. As such, the political catch up with and situation in Mexico clearly proves the existence of patron-client politics.