Some ethnic communities receive generous material rewards for their political support, whilst others only receive very modest payoffs.

Daniel Corstange is an Assistant Professor at Columbia University, New York, and a member of Experiments in Governance and Politics (EGAP). His research has won awards in international relations, political methodology, and fieldwork. He has conducted field research in a number of Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Yemen.

1. Introduction; 2. Ethnic constituencies; 3. Communal politics in Lebanon; 4. Communal politics in Yemen; 5. Contemporary clientelism; 6. Captive audiences and public services; 7. Intermingled vote markets; 8. Perverse competition; 9. Conclusion.