Accountability and Neo-patrimonialism in Cambodia: A Critical Literature Review
Keyword: Accountability, neo-patrimonialism, decentralisation and deconcentration, public administration reform, Cambodian governance
Abstract/Summary
This working paper critically examines the concept of accountability within Cambodia’s evolving governance landscape, particularly in the context of decentralisation and deconcentration reforms. Drawing on international public administration theories and Cambodia’s unique socio-political history, the paper explores how traditional patron-client relationships and neo-patrimonial structures influence formal accountability mechanisms. It reviews Western models such as Traditional Public Administration, New Public Management, and New Institutional Economics, and juxtaposes them with Cambodia’s deeply embedded informal networks and cultural norms. The study highlights the challenges of applying externally derived governance models in a context shaped by hierarchical social structures, historical trauma, and political centralisation. It argues for a contextualised understanding of accountability that incorporates both normative ideals and the realities of neo-patrimonial governance. The paper concludes by proposing analytical tools and locally grounded definitions of accountability, aiming to inform future policy design and reform efforts that are both effective and culturally resonant.
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