Publication details
The Dynamics of Political Patronage in Central and East European Countries : Post-Accession Divergence
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| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Chapter in a book |
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| Description | This chapter examines the phenomenon of political patronage in eleven Central and East European countries, investigating its extent in central state administrations and public agencies. It categorizes countries into high, moderate, and low patronage groups, despite pre-accession reforms aimed at establishing meritocratic civil services. The post EU accession period saw some countries increasing formal political appointments while others maintained stricter merit-based systems, reflecting differing internal political dynamics and levels of commitment to depoliticization. It also explores the impact of historical legacies, party competition, and public administration reforms on illegal patronage practices into bureaucracy, and examines how informal norms persist, leading to a divergence from formal procedures and affecting governance quality and institutional accountability. |
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