The Price of a Vote in the Middle East

More about the book

The book explores the relationship between clientelism and ethnic favoritism in developing societies, specifically in Lebanon and Yemen. Through elite interviews and original surveys, it reveals that voters in competitive communal groups receive greater rewards for their political support compared to those in uncompetitive groups dominated by a single leader. The findings suggest that political competition compels politicians to deliver services, while those in power without competition often neglect their supporters, highlighting the dynamics of political incentives in ethnically divided contexts.