Clientelism, capitalism, and democracy: the rise of programmatic politics in the United States and Britain

Political parties in the United States and Britain used clientelism and patronage to govern throughout the 19th century.

By the 20th, however, parties in both countries shifted to programmatic competition.

This text argues that capitalists were critical to this shift.

Businesses developed new forms of corporate management and capitalist organisation, and found clientelism inimical to economic development.

Drawing on extensive archival research in the United States and Britain, this title shows how national business organisations pushed parties to adopt programmatic reforms, including administrative capacities and policy-centred campaigns.