Patronage, Power and Poverty in Southern Italy: A Tale of Two Cities (Cambridge Studies in Modern Political Economies) - Softcover

Chubb, Judith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521126797 ISBN 13: 9780521126793

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2009

Synopsis

Deeply divided between North and South, the Italy of the 1980s represents an unparalleled example of dualistic development, counterposing two profoundly different models of society and politics. In the South, socioeconomic backwardness was matched by the persistence of traditional forms of political behaviour - a politics based primarily on personal ties and patronage rather than on broader bonds of interest or ideology. This study seeks to understand the sources of popular support for clientelism in a resource-scarce society such as southern Italy. It analyses the dynamics of continuity and change in a political system based primarily on clientelism rather than on broader bonds of interest or ideology. The author explores the concrete patronage mechanisms linking the dominant party to each of the major social groups in the city - ranging from the urban poor to the Mafia. By contrast, the sections on Naples address the question of the conditions under which political machines may have lost their mass base of support.

About this title

Book Description:

Drawing on insights from anthropology, sociology, and political science, this comparative study examines the sources of popular support for clientelism in two resource-scarce Italian towns, Palermo and Naples. It analyzes the relationship between clientelism and economic development, with implications not only for Southern Italy but also for developing nations.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0521126797
• ISBN 13: 9780521126793
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 308