Patronage in sociologisch perspectief

Samenvatting

The concept of patronage is used in two disciplines: (1) in cultural anthropology to indicate a personal relationship between a patron and client, which is reciprocal, asymmetric, and largely instrumental, and (2) in political science as currency for the 'purchase' of political activity and political response. In both cases it can also be seen as power and influence-relations. In terms of parsons' 'pattern variables', patronage is defined as a diffuse, particularistic, mostly ascriptive power-relation, based mainly on self-orientation. The occurrence of patronage in nontraditional, ie in modern and modernizing, societies is briefly discussed (eg in enterprises and u's). Patronage seems to be especially functional on different levels--personal, organizational, societal--in transitional situations. Some conditions which weaken patronage are mentioned: (1) spread of more universalistic norms and value-orientations, (2) functional specialization in the fields of politics and labor, (3) participation in national political systems, and (4) the spread of 'citizenship'. AA.