Democracy & The Politics Of Patrimony
by Ruwantissa Abeyratne
“We shall speak of a patrimonial state when the prince organizes his political power over extra patrimonial areas and political subjects – which is not discretionary and not enforced by physical coercion – just like the exercise of his patriarchal power”.- Max Weber
( March 15, 2015, Montreal, Sri Lanka Guardian) Can democracy and patrimony can co-exist? The political philosopher Max Weber said that a patrimonial State is where “practically everything depends upon personal considerations: upon the attitude towards the concrete applicant and his concrete requests; upon purely personal connections, favour and promises”.
