| ID | 182457 |
| Title Proper | Exploring Politics of Social Safety Net in Bangladesh through Political Settlement |
| Other Title Information | the Case of Rajakhali Union in Cox’s Bazar District |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Rezvi, Minhazur Rahman |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | The purpose of the study is to explore the politics of beneficiaries’ selection and resource distribution of social safety net (SSN) programs and how local elites and political groups establish political settlement by using it as a tool. In developing countries, formal systems are not strong enough and elites’ groups use their power to create informal institutions for securing their interests. As other studies have shown, informal politics influence the processes of selection and distribution of SSN programs in Bangladesh. The study is qualitative in nature and the selected research area is Rajakhali Union in Cox’s Bazar District. The study found that informal systems (e.g. clientelist politics, political affiliation, personal conflicts, and kinship) determine the selection and distribution of SSN programs. The Union Parishad (UP) members distribute the SSN programs to their ineligible clients (supporters, local elites, and political groups) by bypassing the formal systems for strengthening clientelist relations, increasing their legitimacy, stabling their power, and increasing their vote banks. They (UP members, political elites, and local elites) have allowed introducing more informal structures that better serve their interests. They have used the SSN programs as a tool for establishing the political settlement (distribution of power between UP members and local elites). |
| `In' analytical Note |
Journal of Asian and African Studies Vol. 56, No.7; Nov 2021: p.1441-1456 |
| Journal Source | Journal of Asian and African Studies 2021-10 56, 7 |
| Key Words | Bangladesh ; Political Settlement ; Political Groups ; Clientelist Politics ; Social Safety Net ; Local Elites ; Union Parishad Members |