Social Policies for Social Polities: How Conditional Cash Transfers are Undermining Traditional Patrons in Northeast Brazil
Can conditional cash transfers (CCTs) – a popular form of social programs across Latin America and the world – transform poor people’s politics, and foster inclusive citizenship? This paper sets out to explore the interconnections between state intervention, clientelism, and citizenship, on the basi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association d'Economie Politique
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| Series: | Revue Interventions Économiques |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/interventionseconomiques/2987 |
| _version_ | 1797306163954450432 |
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| author | Lorenzo Daïeff |
| author_facet | Lorenzo Daïeff |
| author_sort | Lorenzo Daïeff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Can conditional cash transfers (CCTs) – a popular form of social programs across Latin America and the world – transform poor people’s politics, and foster inclusive citizenship? This paper sets out to explore the interconnections between state intervention, clientelism, and citizenship, on the basis of in-depth qualitative fieldwork in Recife, Northeast Brazil, a region historically marked by strong patron-client relationships. Through conversations with recipients and administrators of the Bolsa Família program, the world’s largest CCT, the paper first refutes the idea that CCTs are themselves a form of vote-buying, and goes on to suggest that they may instead be contributing to the decline of clientelistic politics. The paper then turns to the question of whether the Bolsa Família may, in Recife, be fostering a new form of inclusive citizenship for beneficiaries, and explores competing considerations. It closes on a cautiously optimistic note, and briefly considers the implications for CCTs in other countries and contexts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:38:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05cf96efe2ae417f9898e7141e35ffb6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0715-3570 1710-7377 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:38:02Z |
| publisher | Association d'Economie Politique |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revue Interventions Économiques |
| spelling | doaj.art-05cf96efe2ae417f9898e7141e35ffb62024-02-15T12:54:13ZengAssociation d'Economie PolitiqueRevue Interventions Économiques0715-35701710-73775610.4000/interventionseconomiques.2987Social Policies for Social Polities: How Conditional Cash Transfers are Undermining Traditional Patrons in Northeast BrazilLorenzo DaïeffCan conditional cash transfers (CCTs) – a popular form of social programs across Latin America and the world – transform poor people’s politics, and foster inclusive citizenship? This paper sets out to explore the interconnections between state intervention, clientelism, and citizenship, on the basis of in-depth qualitative fieldwork in Recife, Northeast Brazil, a region historically marked by strong patron-client relationships. Through conversations with recipients and administrators of the Bolsa Família program, the world’s largest CCT, the paper first refutes the idea that CCTs are themselves a form of vote-buying, and goes on to suggest that they may instead be contributing to the decline of clientelistic politics. The paper then turns to the question of whether the Bolsa Família may, in Recife, be fostering a new form of inclusive citizenship for beneficiaries, and explores competing considerations. It closes on a cautiously optimistic note, and briefly considers the implications for CCTs in other countries and contexts.https://journals.openedition.org/interventionseconomiques/2987Brazilconditional cash transferssocial policyclientelismcitizenship |
| spellingShingle | Lorenzo Daïeff Social Policies for Social Polities: How Conditional Cash Transfers are Undermining Traditional Patrons in Northeast Brazil Revue Interventions Économiques Brazil conditional cash transfers social policy clientelism citizenship |
| title | Social Policies for Social Polities: How Conditional Cash Transfers are Undermining Traditional Patrons in Northeast Brazil |
| title_full | Social Policies for Social Polities: How Conditional Cash Transfers are Undermining Traditional Patrons in Northeast Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Social Policies for Social Polities: How Conditional Cash Transfers are Undermining Traditional Patrons in Northeast Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social Policies for Social Polities: How Conditional Cash Transfers are Undermining Traditional Patrons in Northeast Brazil |
| title_short | Social Policies for Social Polities: How Conditional Cash Transfers are Undermining Traditional Patrons in Northeast Brazil |
| title_sort | social policies for social polities how conditional cash transfers are undermining traditional patrons in northeast brazil |
| topic | Brazil conditional cash transfers social policy clientelism citizenship |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/interventionseconomiques/2987 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lorenzodaieff socialpoliciesforsocialpolitieshowconditionalcashtransfersareunderminingtraditionalpatronsinnortheastbrazil |