PSC 436 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Compulsory Voting, Clientelism
5 Nov 2017
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Authoritarian elections vary in competitiveness and the constituencies they mobilize. Probably won"t change anything, but can still have politically important results. Egypt specifically: first multi-candidate presidential election in 2005 (not competitive) Some voters voted based on ideology, but most expected to benefit by having their vote bought poor and uneducated especially (illiterate egyptians almost twice as likely to vote as their peers) Clientelism: a relationship between parties of different statuses that involves some kind of exchange. Swing voters are the cheapest to buy, and poor voters are targets because they benefit more from money than from knowing that they voted based on preference. Current regime has ruled for more than fifty years, same ruler (mubarak) for 25. 2005 election was really just a way to allow the leader"s son to succeed him. Why? international pressure to democratize, get information about opposition, institutionalize their dominant party.
