What is Politics For? Inequality, Representation, and Needs Satisfaction Under Clientelism and Democracy

Abstract

This chapter examines the title question by counterposing democracy and clientelism. Long traditions of political theory have offered immense amounts of literature about processes, ideals, normative preferences, and institutional requisites of these systems that are sometimes perceived as polar opposites on continuums of inclusion and representation. Despite the importance of economics to both of these forms of politics—politics is in part a public good delivery system that is deeply influenced by economic context—little of the discussion centers on the reciprocal influence of economics and politics in democracy and clientelism. As the work I have pursued demonstrates clientelism and efforts to combat it within Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America, I have focused especially on economic inequality.