Patronage workshops

The Chair of International Relations of the Friedrich Schiller University and Prof. Rafael Biermann has been at the forefront of a novel research program on patron-client relations in contemporary world politics.

Recently, our Chair published two free access papers on the topic. Rafael Bierman has published an article, which breaks new ground in the study of secessionist conflict. The article conceptualizes the relationships between host states and secessionist groups and their patrons and applies the concept to secessionist conflict as a distinct sub-type. The article also outlines directions for future research and suggests theoretical building-blocks on two dimensions: the motives for forming, maintaining and terminating patron-client relationships, and the impact of such relationships on secessionist conflict. The article is published online first and can be accessed hereExternal link.

The article is the conceptual backbone article of a forthcoming Special Issue in the journal Territory, Politics and Governance. Before already the article by the Chair’s PhD student Christopher Brucker conceptualizing Civil Society Patronage in the case of Biafra appeared online. It is available hereExternal link.

In order to further the research of the concept our chair has organized several high profile workshops with prestigious organizations such ECPR and EISA:

Secessionism workshop in Dornburg 2021

EISA Workshop 2022: Patron-Client Relationships in World Politics

ECPR Workshop 2023: Patron-Client Relationships in World Politics