'Neopatrimonialism' and agricultural development in Africa: contributions and limitations of a contested concept

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Periodical article

Title:	'Neopatrimonialism' and agricultural development in Africa: contributions and limitations of a contested concept
Author:	deGrassi, Aaron
Year:	2008
Periodical:	African Studies Review
Volume:	51
Issue:	3
Pages:	107-133
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Subsaharan Africa
Subjects:	political systems agricultural development agricultural policy
External link:	http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/african_studies_review/v051/51.3.degrassi.pdf
Abstract:	Recently an increasing number of analysts have assumed that the concept of neopatrimonialism can be deployed usefully to understand how sub-Saharan African governments approach agricultural development and policy reform, and consequently why the continent's aggregate agricultural productivity has grown relatively slowly. Neopatrimonialism is commonly understood as a hybrid regime consisting of, on the one hand, a formal, modern, rational-legal State-like apparatus (the 'neo') and, on the other hand, a patrimonial spoils network. This article summarizes the literature on neopatrimonialism, reviewing how analysts have applied the concept in studies of food and agricultural policies in Africa. It then draws out some of the key contributions of such an approach, and describes its limitations, both methodological and substantive. Finally, it asks how and why the concept has been deployed, and recommends greater circumspection, research, and refinement. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract, edited]