Patronage
This article is about patronage; for other meanings of patronage, see Patron.
The articles clientelism and patronage overlap thematically. Information that you are looking for here may therefore also be found in the other article.
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Patronage is the targeted promotion of people by persons with corresponding economic or political opportunities. Such a person is referred to in this context as a patron, and the person benefiting from it as a client. In the (usually) positive sense, this can mean, for example, help in building up a business or a career by a patron, in the (usually) negative sense, the granting of prestigious positions or possessions through relationships. Protection from disruptive influences on vested interests or social standing by superiors is also considered patronage.
The term is synonymous with clientelism, which comes from the protected group of people. In Austria, instead of patronage, one usually speaks of protection.
See also
- Patron
- Protegé
