Fragmentación electoral y política tradicional en Colombia

Abstract

This paper assesses the relationship between “traditional politics” —relative to the liberal and the conservative parties—, and electoral fragmentation in Colombia. Both traditional parties, specially the biggest one, the liberal party, are strongly prone to patronage. That is why many scholars have stated that dominant parties promote electoral institutions which favor fragmentation and thus patronage. The empirical evidence presented here shows that such fragmentation does not benefit the interests of traditional politicians, and it started before the allegedly “perverse” institutions were established. This suggests that the analysis must be more careful in interpreting the meaning of patronage as part of social dynamics and the role that the problems of collective action can have among politicians.