When the Party is Over: The Effect of Political Fragmentation on Clientelism

Using an instrumental variable approach that exploits the quasi-random variation introduced by seat-allocation rules, I examine the impact of party system fragmentation on clientelistic practices in local-level elections in Colombia. The findings reveal that increased fragmentation negatively affects clientelistic parties’ electoral success. These outcomes are driven by heightened intra-party competition and mobilization costs, as well as an increase distrust in public goods provision and a shift in voters preferences towards more personalistic leaders and programmatic parties. Findings further point to little investment in public goods provision, prioritizing visible goods over quality and long-term investments when done. This suggests that, while fragmentation may reduce the efficiency of clientelistic practices for electoral mobilization, it does not necessarily lead to improved governance or long-lasting state capacity.