How do autocrats hold onto power? Evidence from Kenya, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe
In each of these cases, an established single- or dominant-party regime faced heightened international pressure, economic crisis, and a strong opposition challenge after 1990. Yet whereas ruling parties in Kenya and Zambia were organized almost exclusively around patronage, those in Mozambique and Zimbabwe were liberation parties that came to power via violent struggle. This difference is critical to explaining diverging post-Cold War regime outcomes: whereas ruling parties in Zambia and Kenya imploded and eventually lost power in these face of crises, those in Mozambique and Zimbabwe remained intact and regimes survived.
…while elite access to power and spoils may ensure elite cooperation during normal times, it often fails to do so during crises. Instead, the identities, norms, and organizational structures forged during periods of sustained, violent, and ideologically-driven conflict are a critical source of cohesion—and durability—in party-based authoritarian regimes.
A new paper from Levitsky and Way. Older ungated copy.
To govern, material rewards are not enough. Non-material bonds–especially cohesion forged in violence and struggle. Interesting addition to the idea that string states are forged in violence and struggle.
13 Responses
When patronage is not enough http://t.co/XaxZR9h7
Peace & stability are top priorities b’cuz my patronage system is as unstable as a house of cards: http://t.co/7DyqfynQ via @cblatts
RT @cblatts: When patronage is not enough http://t.co/q9MpkbUa
this could arguably support the failures of political parties based on ethnicity and clan rather than some other unifying theme or ideology. It’s a a frequent observation in Africa that ethnic based federal systems or political parties are prone to failure and instability.
Patronage alone is not enough to sustain coercive political orgs. Cohesion forged in difficult times matters too >> http://t.co/wCHAr3pN
RT @viewfromthecave: When patronage is not enough – @cblatts http://t.co/96s4v9T1
Interesting thoughts on stability/durability of autocrats by @cblatts When patronage is not enough http://t.co/m215JQgp
patronage is not enough to maintain political power, analysis contrasts #Kenya #Mozambique #Zambia #Zimbabwe http://t.co/TQFAVp2l
Evidence that regimes forged in revolutionary struggle are more resistant to outside pressure http://t.co/6nIjUbMl
According to this argument shouldn’t have the communist parties of Yugoslavia and Albania survived the end of the cold war, both were rooted in liberation movements, founded in struggle , ideologically motivated and both were independent of the soviets?
RT @cblatts: When patronage is not enough http://t.co/q9MpkbUa
RT @cblatts: When patronage is not enough http://t.co/q9MpkbUa
RT @cblatts: When patronage is not enough http://t.co/q9MpkbUa