ИСТИНА

This paper assesses the essential features, trends and several cases of formation of patronate-based elites in Africa with the application of method of systemic comparison, historic dynamics and analytical comparison. Political parties in African societies are often formed on the basis of “patron-client” relationship, which excludes the consideration of political platforms and manifestos of the parties. The political partisanship is substituted by the vulnerable system of family-based relationships. In certain cases, this system is based on relationship between ethnical clans, local communities and religious groups, with no relations to party policy. In Africa, the analysis of elites is difficult, because a single economic or political subject may be represented in different elite strata. This results in constant internal uncertainty and hinders economic development. This paper evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of these elites and their potential in local and regional perspectives.