Apuntes para la Investigación del Clientelismo en Argentina

Abstract

In Argentina, clientelism has been invoked by several authors as a cen tral factor that explains the political viability of the structural reforms during the 90´s. However, this concept still presents many conceptual, theoretical and methodological difficulties that impede an adequate evaluation of an hypothesis of this type. Considering the notion of clientelism as an exchange relation which implies the monopoly of the “patrón” over resources esteemed by the “client”, in this paper we try to elaborate a basic theoretic scheme that allow us to identify relevant varia bles and design consistent empirical explorations. The preliminary evidence, built up with electoral, budgetary and socio-economic data at the municipal level of the cities of Córdoba and Misiones, cast doubt on the clientelistic hypothesis. Although it denotes a major “inclination” towards clientelistic engagement made by the peronist party, it raises several queries about the effectiveness of those expenses in the determination of the electoral behavior of the voters.