1. a system of political or economic control in which a powerful patron (padrone) exercises authority over dependent clients or workers, often through patronage and personal loyalty rather than formal institutions
Usage: historical; chiefly used in contexts discussing Latin American, Mediterranean, or colonial political systems

Examples

• The rural regions operated under a system of padronism where landowners controlled the votes and livelihoods of peasants.
• Historians attribute the persistence of padronism in some regions to weak central government institutions.
• The political reform aimed to dismantle the old padronism and establish more transparent governance.
• Padronism created hierarchies based on personal relationships rather than legal rights.
• Breaking free from padronism required both legal changes and shifts in social attitudes.