This policy brief explores political patronage as a key driver of corruption and misgovernance in the Western Balkans and a persistent obstacle to democratic governance and EU integration. It finds that patronage systems have evolved beyond traditional “jobs-for-votes” exchanges into more complex forms of state capture, where political elites, business interests, and informal networks influence public appointments, procurement decisions, and policy-making.
Drawing on examples from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, the analysis highlights how patronage practices remain embedded in public administration and political systems across the region. These dynamics weaken merit-based recruitment, distort market competition, and create opportunities for illicit political financing, particularly during electoral cycles.
The brief outlines the need for stronger professionalization of the public sector, improved transparency in governance, and more effective enforcement of anti-corruption measures to reduce the influence of political patronage and strengthen public trust in public institutions.
