Insider or Outsider? Patronage and Electoral Accountability in Europe

This paper suggests the type of corruption prevalent in society fundamentally influences the functioning of democracy, and in particular the electoral punishment of political corruption. We suggest that patronage corrodes electoral accountability, and allows political institutions rife with venality to remain unchecked. Patronage is divisive since those included in patronage networks (insiders) remain loyal to corrupt politicians while those excluded from these networks (outsiders) resign from any attempt to influence the state of affairs. Patronage thereby both increases loyalty with corrupt politicians and canalizes grievances and disaffection towards voter abstention. New data at the regional level in Europe support our claim.