Public services reforms in Neo-Patrimonial systems: the commercialization of healthcare and education in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Reforms of public services have been extensively researched in representative democracies, where they have been especially explained by ideological change, political turnover, financial crises and pressures from international organizations. Meanwhile, less attention has been paid to explaining them in countries whose institutions have been characterized as neo-patrimonial systems. This study aims to explain the commercialization of healthcare and education services that took place in Saudi Arabia since the 2000s. The analysis provides some ways to refine and expand existing theoretical accounts of public services reforms in regimes that differ from representative democracies.

KEYWORDS:

• Public services reform
• neo-patrimonial systems
• commercialization of public services
• Saudi Arabia

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alberto Asquer

Dr Alberto Asquer is senior lecturer of public policy and management at the School of Finance and Management of SOAS University of London, where he also directs the Centre for Financial and Management Studies and the Centre for Water and Development.

Ahmed Alzahrani

Dr Ahmed Alzahrani is director of the IPA Business Center of the Institute of Public Administration in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.