Clientelistic networks and local corruption: Evidence from Western Crete DIMITRIOS CHRISTOPOULOS

Christopoulos, Dimitrios

Abstract

In this article, the attitudes and interaction of local political and business elites in western Crete are examined by means of an attitudinal survey, triangulated with data from in-depth interviews, conducted between July and October 1991. The data examined indicate that the endemic prevalence of clientelistic networks creates the background for corruption, although evidence of corrupt practice is not strong. In this analysis it is presumed that the attitudes and perceptions of key actors are affected by a definition of corruption that is relevant to their particular civil society alone. Data analyzed here suggest that local élite attitudes towards corruption are not perceived to affect the standards of conduct at the local level. It can also be deduced that if corruption is linked to the problems of administrative efficiency and economic development of the region, these can be related to vertical clientelistic networks with the national centre.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 1998
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 9, 2019
• Journal: South European Society and Politics
• Print ISSN: 1360-8746
• Electronic ISSN: 1743-9612
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-22
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13608740308539523
• Keywords: clientelistic networks, local corruption, western Crete
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1100982
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13608740308539523