Clientalism, Lebanon: Roots and trends

In this article, I will argue that despite the establishment of modern Lebanon, clientalism has evolved and persisted along with other 'modern' forms of participation. Its various forms have had a constraining effect on the enactment of universalistic policies and discouraged the development of citizen participation and support as contingent to general policy implementation. Accordingly, I first examine how clientalism is rooted in and intertwined with the Lebanese political system. I also discuss the coexistence of various forms of clientalism, by focusing on the transformation of patron-client relations from traditional forms of patronage to clientelistic brokerage typical of contemporary Lebanon. Finally, I will shed some light on the future trends of clientalism in Lebanon.