Patronage, state capture and oligopolistic monopoly in South Africa: the slide from a weak to a dysfunctional state?
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Date
2017
Authors
Labuschagne, Pieter
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
The aim of the article is to investigate the phenomenon
of state capture from a political perspective. In the
literature, discussions around state capture are
principally done from an economic context, not from a
political perspective. The viewpoint in the article is that
a more multi-faceted political approach is necessary,
because the eroding of the role of the state is essentially
a political problem. The phenomenon of state capture
should therefore receive more scholarly attention
within the political sciences, so the focus of this article
is on addressing the problem of state capture within a
political context. Here, the link between corruption and
state capture is outlined and the difference between the
two concepts is shown to be only a matter of degree.
In the case of corruption the outcome is uncertain,
while in the event of state capture the outcome is more
definite as a result of the control an external agent
exerts over a political functionary. The article also
addresses the important tipping point, when a weak state – with high levels of corruption – lapses into a dysfunctional state. The finding is
that the degradation from a weak to a dysfunctional state occurs during state capture
when resource allocation – a core function of government – is controlled by outside
agents. In the concluding section reference is made to the Public Protector’s report
and its alignment with the theoretical features of state capture.
Description
Keywords
State capture, Corruption, Function of government, Political sciences
Citation
Labuschagne, P. (2017). Patronage, state capture and oligopolistic monopoly in South Africa: The slide from a weak to a dysfunctional state? Acta Academica, 49(2), 51-67.