Problem
Entrenched politicians
Other Names:
Long-term political incumbents Nature:
Political incumbents have advantages which preserve their ability to stay in office -- access to funds to overwhelm underfinanced challengers, paid staff that tend to constituents' problems, government privileges which provide opportunities for self-promotion, often as "official business", access to research and media, and carefully gerrymandered districts that ensure solid blocs of support on re-election day.
Incidence:
98% of incumbent congress members in the USA who seek re-election have been successful in recent years. For example, in 1998, House incumbents ended up running unopposed in 95 districts, while in 127 they faced only token opposition; a record 98.5 percent of them were reelected, collecting an average of more than 70 percent of the vote.
Broader Problems:
SinecuresUndemocratic social systemsPolitical inertiaReluctance of leaders to relinquish power Narrower Problems:
Extreme detachment from represented constituency Related Problems:
Declining significance of electoral politicsPolitical unfitnessPolitical dictatorship Reduces:
Political instability Subject(s):
Government → PoliticalGovernment → Politics
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
D: Detailed problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST