Clientelism

I really should get into these discussion threads a lot sooner. I tend to wait 'til the last minute (big surprise, eh?) before posting my thoughts on the topic. However, seldom is there enough time for others to respond. I often wonder what some of these replies would be, particularly in cases where my thoughts tend to diverge from the others throughout the threads.

The most recent discussion has been about clientelism. It seems that the discussion of what patron-client relationships are has centered around the ones throughout developing countries - those marked in particular by extreme imbalances in power and subsequent exploitation by those in power. However, not all patron-client relationships have this same sort of imbalance, do they? There are often cases in which the client holds more leverage over the patron. In fact, this is most true throughout our economy. American consumers experience this power every day when choosing where to shop, for example.

There are varying configurations and degrees of power distribution among different patron-client relationships. When American consumers shop at a mall, these "clients" hold considerably more leverage over the shopkeepers, because they get to decide where to spend their money. However, when a cell phone carrier locks its customers into a 2-year plan, then they gain a considerable amount of upperhand within this relationship.

American democracy has been so successful for the past 233 years, because of its founders' consciousness to this issue. The circular checks and balances within the American government ensures that there is always an avenue to assert accountability and ensure that promises are being kept for the good of the general public.