Caciquismo and peasant patronage networks

The aim of this study is to account for widely reported phenomena of political bossism among peasant populations using a synthetic theoretical construct of the political structure that provides the context for these varying forms. My procedural methodology is deductive; from a model derived from sociological principles of exchange in human behavior (Homans, 1950) and from related descriptive statements on patronage from ethnographic evidence, a theoretical structure of peasant political organization is formulated. This hypothesis will then be tested among a few selected cases in the ethnographic literature (selected on the basis of their thoroughness of the data relevant here). This procedure will enable us to see the structural similarities in spite of the wide cultural and social differences manifested in the data. In the course of constructing the model, the inherent dynamics due to internal contradictions and changes affected by processual development are spelled out. They will allow me to account for factionalism and conflict which have been empirically reported. The purpose of this exercise is an attempt at accounting for the phenomenon of political bossism and factionalism which, too often, either by historians or ethnographers reporting on their special cases, are not explained sociologically but attributed to 'strong men,' 'forceful leaders' and 'unique personal characteristics.' Such a phenomenon is so widespread among varying cultures that sociological principles probably exist which may help account for it. This study was fostered by an interest caciquismo, a form of political bossism found in Latin America, and especially by my more narrow interest in Middle American cultural area; hence, most of the data to be examined in this study is from monographic and journal literature concerning Middle America. However, recent work concerning European peasantries has addressed itself to similar phenomena and these materials are also examined, in an attempt to prove the validity of the model. (See more in text.)