This article explores how political party leaders strategically manage local brokers to extract essential services within electoral democracies.
Using a formal model and survey experiments from Argentina — the first probability sample of its kind targeting broker perspectives directly — we demonstrate that while effective brokers are crucial for machine success, they also introduce organizational vulnerabilities that can threaten electoral outcomes.
Key Argument:
- Political machines rely heavily on local brokers to function effectively.
- However, these very brokers who provide vital services create potential risks.
New Contribution:
Our formal model reveals the inherent tension faced by party leaders — they need capable individuals, but effective brokers may undermine long-term stability or electoral performance.
Data & Methods:
Survey experiment conducted in Argentina using a novel probability sample of local party members.
