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Coda: American Patrimonialism

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  • Richard Lachmann

Abstract

Patrimonialism, until fairly recently, seemed an archaic social form, largely replaced by bureaucratic rationalism. That confident view of modernity, in the histories that Max Weber and his followers wrote, deserves to be challenged as patrimonial regimes reappear in states and firms throughout the world. This article is my attempt to mount that challenge. I first revisit Weber’s conception of patrimonialism and discuss how gendered and elitist studies of early modern Europe require a reevaluation of patrimonialism’s dynamics and resilience. I then present an overview of evidence for the return of patrimonialism and of ideological justifications for its legitimacy, focusing on the United States. Since Weber and his successors all see patrimonialism and bureaucracy as incompatible, it is necessary to develop a theory of how the dynamics of elite conflict within bureaucratic, capitalist societies can generate patrimonialism. I do so in the penultimate section of this article, and I then explore the implications of that theory for predicting the future course of patrimonialism in the twenty-first century.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Lachmann, 2011. "Coda: American Patrimonialism," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 636(1), pages 204-230, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:636:y:2011:i:1:p:204-230
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716210396814
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lachmann, Richard, 2000. "Capitalists in Spite of Themselves: Elite Conflict and Economic Transitions in Early Modern Europe," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195075687.
    2. de Vries,Jan & van der Woude,Ad, 1997. "The First Modern Economy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521570619.
    3. de Vries,Jan & van der Woude,Ad, 1997. "The First Modern Economy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521578257.
    4. Flynn, Dennis O., 1982. "Fiscal Crisis and the Decline of Spain (Castile)," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 42(1), pages 139-147, March.
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