Clientelistic vote mobilization is a prominent electoral strategy in many of the world's
democracies and electoral authoritarian regimes. Yet the comparative study of this practice …

A compelling examination of China's engagement of nonstate actors as a counterintuitive
solution to coerce citizens while minimizing backlash against the state. How do states …

Coastal communities in the Global South face significant challenges due to urbanization,
population growth, and climate change-induced sea level rise. This paper contributes to the …

During the past decade Bangladesh has shifted from a competitively clientelistic two‐party
system towards a dominant‐party democracy. This article analyses how the ruling party has …

The association between social diversity and state-provided public goods is a central
political economy problem. This paper highlights how status inequality is a distinct political …

Close-knit religious groups have a long history of relying on brokers to facilitate the
connection with the state. Police agencies also often rely on brokers to provide a reliable …

Motivation How do poor and marginalized people solve problems and claim rights and
entitlements in places affected by conflict and where state authority is contested …

This ethnographic article focuses on interactions between poor Muslim women, various
intermediaries/brokers, and the Indian state. The article illustrates the complexities of claim …

To what extent do brokers empower marginalised communities? This pertinent question
connects the articles collected in this special issue and is the focus of this introduction. We …

Recent decades have witnessed the globalisation of policies promoting social cash transfers
as a critical instrument for poverty reduction. Among various approaches, the Conditional …