Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 PERSONAL RELATIONS, TRUST AND AMBIVALENCE IN RELATION TO THE INSTITUTIONAL ORDER
- 2 THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRUST IN THE SOCIAL ORDER AND ITS AMBIVALENCES: VIEWED FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
- 3 THE STRUCTURING OF TRUST IN SOCIETY: UNCONDITIONALITIES, GENERALISED EXCHANGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
- 4 THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS AND VARIETY OF PATRON–CLIENT RELATIONS
- 5 THE CLIENTELISTIC MODE OF GENERALISED EXCHANGE AND PATRON–CLIENT RELATIONS AS ADDENDA TO THE CENTRAL INSTITUTIONAL NEXUS
- 6 THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS GENERATING PATRON–CLIENT RELATIONS
- 7 VARIATIONS IN PATRON–CLIENT RELATIONS
- 8 RITUALISED INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS; PRIVACY AND FRIENDSHIP
- 9 CONCLUDING REMARKS: THE DIALECTICS OF TRUST AND THE SOCIAL ORDER
- Notes
- Index
4 - THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS AND VARIETY OF PATRON–CLIENT RELATIONS
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 June 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 PERSONAL RELATIONS, TRUST AND AMBIVALENCE IN RELATION TO THE INSTITUTIONAL ORDER
- 2 THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRUST IN THE SOCIAL ORDER AND ITS AMBIVALENCES: VIEWED FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
- 3 THE STRUCTURING OF TRUST IN SOCIETY: UNCONDITIONALITIES, GENERALISED EXCHANGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
- 4 THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS AND VARIETY OF PATRON–CLIENT RELATIONS
- 5 THE CLIENTELISTIC MODE OF GENERALISED EXCHANGE AND PATRON–CLIENT RELATIONS AS ADDENDA TO THE CENTRAL INSTITUTIONAL NEXUS
- 6 THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS GENERATING PATRON–CLIENT RELATIONS
- 7 VARIATIONS IN PATRON–CLIENT RELATIONS
- 8 RITUALISED INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS; PRIVACY AND FRIENDSHIP
- 9 CONCLUDING REMARKS: THE DIALECTICS OF TRUST AND THE SOCIAL ORDER
- Notes
- Index
Summary
THE CORE CHARACTERISTICS OF PATRON–CLIENT RELATIONS
What is meant by patron–client relations? Which types of relations are so defined?
Let us first give a few preliminary illustrations of such relations, taken from the abundant literature on the subject.
In Sicily, a student, interested in getting an introduction to a professor from whom he needs a favour, approaches a local small-town politician who owes him a favour. The politician puts him in contact with a cousin at the regional urban centre and the latter contacts an assistant to the professor who then arranges the appointment. The favour sought is granted and in return the student promises to campaign for the politician at election times.
In an Umbrian community of Italy during the period 1860–1945, patrons lent money or guaranteed loans, gave employment, helped to provide dowries for the daughters of the client families, provided medicines and helped to obtain medical services. They filled out the papers which were required for civil or administrative purposes, spoke to bureaucrats on their clients' behalf. As government benefits were introduced, the patron was needed to obtain them. Signora M., whose husband was killed during the First World War, tried in vain for months to collect a government pension for war widows; only after her patron spoke of her case to the appropriate officials did she succeed in getting it. The patron interpreted the law to his client and offered advice. If there were troubles with the authorities, the patron intervened.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Patrons, Clients and FriendsInterpersonal Relations and the Structure of Trust in Society, pp. 43 - 165Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1984