Power, Patronage, and the Local State in Ghana.

Barry Driscoll's book "Power, Patronage, and the Local State in Ghana" fills a gap in research on patronage systems in developing countries, focusing on their impact on state capacity and local governance. Through empirical data from surveys and interviews in Ghana, Driscoll explores how competitive elections shape patronage dynamics and influence local governance. While the study challenges the idea that patronage undermines responsive governance, it also highlights the potential negative long-term effects of patronage on institutional integrity and public trust in government institutions. [Extracted from the article]