Under what conditions can marginal groups achieve desired outcomes from the government?

What is it about?

This article describes research among associations for youth, women, and social welfare in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Neopatrimonialism is the idea that government policies have a veneer of formally democratic and bureaucratic procedures but that many decisions are in fact made informally based on the personal interests of the decisionmakers and their clients. Neopatrimonialism fits Bosnia, but if it is so hard to achieve results on behalf of their members, why do associations try? If they are unusually able to achieve the outcomes that they desire, is that because they get their constituents involved in politics, or is it rather through developing ties with politicians? The research found that many outcomes are in fact only formal but not implemented in practice. Achieving outcomes in practice takes sustained involvement and was more often the results of approaches to develop relationships with politicians and bureaucrats.

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Why is it important?

Much of the research on associations in Bosnia-Herzegovina looks at those supported by foreign donors and concludes that they do not engage with the government. This article is important because it looks at those who do set political goals and aims to understand whether they can achieve the outcomes that they desire and if so under what conditions. This is important because such struggle contributes to the process of democratization.