Patronage & Clieintelist Politics in Egypt - Assignment Example

What factors sustained patronage and Clientelistic practices in Egypt during the pre-Arab spring?HypothesisClientelistic and patronage in Egypt during the per-Arab period were enhanced by authoritarian elections.IntroductionThe pre-Arab spring in Egypt was mainly characterized by an economic oppression regime that was used by the elite to manipulate the lower status parties in exchange for voting them to power.Theoretical perspectiveFirst, clientelism is the trading of goods and services for political support.

In fact, it is regarded as a political system that has an asymmetric relationship between parties of political actors referred to as patrons and clients. In traditional societies, as was the case in Egypt during the pre-Arab spring period patron-client relationships offers a platform for the mobilization of the low-status group by the well-established elites. Thus, the introduction of competitive elections would disadvantage the patron since the client would have additional resources from the patron by use of his or her to pay the patron.

In essence, incentives linked to voter turn out Egypt’s electoral process during the pre-Arab spring played a chief role in the voting trend among the vast majority. Although some voters cast their vote based on ideological concerns, this is just a small percentage of voters, unlike the majority who expected material benefits for voting for a particular leader. In addition, the vast majority cast their vote mainly due to pressure from the government either in a direct or an indirect manner.

Thus, responsive to vote-buying was high since the higher percentage of the population compromised of poor and illiterate parties (Blaydes 10).Main points for use to test my hypothesisThe conduct of elections in Egypt during the pre-Arab was authoritarian and the majority of voters comprised of illiterates hence easily manipulatedDeterminants of voter turn in Egypt during the pre-Arab spring were established elites who mobilized the majority of lower status parties