Neopatrimonialism Reconsidered: Critical Review and Elaboration of an Elusive Concept

TLDR

The article critically reviews the literature on patrimonialism and neopatrimonialism within Development and African Studies. It tackles three conceptual questions: distinguishing neopatrimonialism from clientelism and patronage, devising a measurement approach, and linking it to classical regime typologies. Drawing on Weber’s patrimonialism and legal‑rational bureaucracy, the authors formulate their own definition of neopatrimonialism.

Abstract

Abstract The article provides a critical discussion of the literature on ‘patrimonialism’ and ‘neopatrimonialism’ in Development Studies in general and African Studies in particular. Based on Max Weber's concept of patrimonialism and legal-rational bureaucracy the authors present their own definition of ‘neopatrimonialism’. Three key conceptual questions are addressed. These are related to the operationalisation of the concept in empirical research: (1) how can neopatrimonialism be delimited vis-à-vis the concepts ‘clientelism’ and ‘patronage’?; (2) how can neopatrimonialism be ‘measured’?; and (3) how does neopatrimonialism relate to classical typologies of political regimes?