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The clientelism trap in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, and its impact on aid policy

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  • Terence Wood

Abstract

Clientelism is a central feature of politics in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Most voters vote in search of personalized or localized benefit, and most politicians focus on delivering benefits to their supporters at the expense of national governance. In this article, I explain how clientelism impedes development in both countries. I then describe underdevelopment's role in causing clientelism. I also explain the resulting trap: clientelism causes underdevelopment, and underdevelopment causes clientelism. Because of the trap, clientelism will shape the two countries' politics for the foreseeable future. However, the history of other countries gives cause to believe it can be overcome in the long‐run. In the second half of the paper, I explain how change may occur. I also outline implications for aid policy, looking at how clientelism constrains the impact aid can have, and explaining how donors can act to maximize their impact in a difficult environment.

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  • Terence Wood, 2018. "The clientelism trap in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, and its impact on aid policy," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(3), pages 481-494, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:asiaps:v:5:y:2018:i:3:p:481-494
    DOI: 10.1002/app5.239
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cesi Cruz & Philip Keefer, 2015. "Political Parties, Clientelism, and Bureaucratic Reform," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 89657, Inter-American Development Bank.
    2. Julien Barbara, 2014. "From Intervention to Partnership—Prospects for Development Partnership in Solomon Islands after the RAMSI," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 1(2), pages 395-408, May.
    3. Matthew Dornan, 2016. "The Political Economy of Road Management Reform: Papua New Guinea's National Road Fund," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies 201634, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    4. Matthew Dornan, 2016. "The Political Economy of Road Management Reform: Papua New Guinea's National Road Fund," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 3(3), pages 443-457, September.
    5. James A. Robinson & Thierry Verdier, 2013. "The Political Economy of Clientelism," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 115(2), pages 260-291, April.
    6. Cruz, Cesi & Keefer, Philip, 2015. "Political Parties, Clientelism, and Bureaucratic Reform," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 6968, Inter-American Development Bank.
    7. Martin Shefter, 1977. "Party and Patronage: Germany, England, and Italy," Politics & Society, , vol. 7(4), pages 403-451, December.
    8. Yanguas, Pablo & Hulme, David, 2015. "Barriers to Political Analysis in Aid Bureaucracies: From Principle to Practice in DFID and the World Bank," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 209-219.
    9. Rebecca Abers, 1998. "From Clientelism to Cooperation: Local Government, Participatory Policy, and Civic Organizing in Porto Alegre, Brazil," Politics & Society, , vol. 26(4), pages 511-537, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chris Roche & John Cox & Mereani Rokotuibau & Peni Tawake & Yeshe Smith, 2020. "The Characteristics of Locally Led Development in the Pacific," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 136-146.

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