Interesting read on Clientelism and Democracy

[Dolores]

http://www.qog.pol.gu.se/conferences...ers/Keefer.pdf

This is an interesting background piece on clientelism and new democracies. They mention the Dominican Republic. While it dates back to 2005, I think lots of what is mentioned there today is relevant today.

[MaCabrera]

Clientilism is the norm, unfortunately, in the DR (and the "Third World" as a whole). Universal sufferage does NOT guarantee and end to this. It is only when there's a concerted effort throughout the whole of the political and civic entities that true institutionalism can begin to take root. The "botellas" and, more recently "nominas" or "nominillas" are prime examples of the rampant clientilism that prevails in the DR.

The only true effort to move away from this was during the Bosch government of '63, which fell to a US backed coup shortly after taking power. After that, the Junta and subsequent Balaguer governments ingrained clientilism deeply into the political psyche. It'll take extraordinary effort on all parts and, I'm sure, bloodshed to extract this cancer from Dominican politics.

[Chip]

I think it is quite telling that out of 50 Dominicans one talks with, 49 will tell you that what politicians make is way to much money, un abuso .

Given that the DR really only has had a "real" democracy for 12 years now, it will take some time - a generation or two for people to realize just how much power they really have. Unfortunatelly, due to the lack of education and ignorance of the democratic system already in place, the majority poor are constantly kept in an apathetic state of inaction because of the disbelief that they don't count, ni voz ni voto.

As long as the political parties don't sabotage the voting process, there will come a time when a leader will take office and demand fiscal reform. This doesn't necessarily have to be a bloody revolution.

[Berzin]

Originally Posted by Chip

As long as the political parties don't sabotage the voting process, there will come a time when a leader will take office and demand fiscal reform. This doesn't necessarily have to be a bloody revolution.

Yes, it will be bloody. No politician or political party will voluntarily cede power and step aside for the betterment of their country as a whole unless they get taken out by force.

It doesn't work that way in politics. Never has and never will.

[Chip]

Originally Posted by Berzin

Yes, it will be bloody. No politician or political party will voluntarily cede power and step aside for the betterment of their country as a whole unless they get taken out by force.

It doesn't work that way in politics. Never has and never will.

Please re-read my post as I did not propose this.