clientelism
noun
any social or political system characterized by favoritism or patronage, in which patrons, or those in power, confer favors on their clients, who are their active supporters.
clientelist
-
a word derived from
clientelism.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a world of anemic public provisioning, powerful municipal political machines, characterized by widespread corruption, solidified their working-class voting bases through these clientelist practices.
From Salon ● Jan. 1, 2016
The goal of “cleaning up” proletarian-based clientelist machines contributed to Progressive support for the saloon’s eradication.
From Salon ● Jan. 1, 2016
