WordValeclientelism
exchanging goods or services for political support
In more detail
1. (noun) a political system in which leaders gain power and support by giving jobs, money, or favors to their supporters rather than by having good policies
2. (noun) the practice of a professional (such as a lawyer or doctor) maintaining relationships with regular clients
Examples
- 1. The government was criticized for clientelism when it hired unqualified people just because they supported the party.
- 2. The law firm's success depended on strong clientelism, with many businesses returning as repeat customers.
How to use clientelism
Clientelism is primarily used in political and academic discourse to describe patronage-based systems where power depends on distributing personal favors rather than implementing policy-based governance. The first sense carries strongly negative connotations and is common in discussions of corruption and institutional weakness, particularly in developing nations. The second sense, referring to professional client relationships, is more neutral but less frequently used than the political sense.
Common phrases
- political clientelism
- clientelism and corruption
- combat clientelism
- system of clientelism
- clientelism undermines democracy
Synonyms
patronage · nepotism · cronyism · favoritism · patron-client relationship
Opposites
meritocracy
Word family
clientelist (adjective) · clientelistic (adjective) · clientele (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse clientelism with clientele (the body of clients themselves) or use it without recognizing its primarily pejorative political connotation in the first sense.
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