The Mona Charen Show Most Corrupt Ever
Jun 2, 2025
Jonathan Rauch, a writer for The Atlantic and a senior fellow at Brookings, dives deep into the intricacies of modern governance and corruption. He discusses Trump’s personal loyalty-driven style as a form of patrimonialism, linking it to historical authoritarianism. The dangers of exposing political corruption are examined through figures like Alexei Navalny. Rauch critiques how populism can mask corruption, questioning the ethics of leaders who exploit this narrative without facing consequences, and emphasizes the urgency for accountability in today’s polarized political environment.
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Understanding Patrimonialism
- Patrimonialism is a system where the state is the personal property of the leader, common historically before modern bureaucracies.
- It is based on personal loyalty, differing from authoritarianism which builds enduring oppressive institutions.
Patrimonialism vs. Bureaucracy
- Patrimonialism replaces disloyal bureaucrats with loyalists or family, undermining independent, expert governance.
- This system layers loyalty over existing government rather than creating durable authoritarian institutions.
The Godfather Scene Illustrates Patrimonialism
- The first scene of The Godfather perfectly exemplifies patrimonialism through personal loyalty and exchange of favors.
- The Don rewards loyalty and punishes those who go outside his network, mirroring patrimonial loyalty dynamics.
