Appointing relatives and friends to high positions is to ruin the country: what is nepotism

What is nepotism

Nepotism (from the Latin nepos, nepotis - "grandson, nephew") is the use of power to advance the career ladder of one's relatives and friends, regardless of their professional competence. According to Ushakov's dictionary, this is official protection of relatives and his people, nepotism. Also, nepotism is called one of the types of corruption.

Nepotism is closely related to the concept of favoritism - unfair support of one or more people in power. A favorite is someone who enjoys the trust of a senior person and, thanks to his chosen position, influences his decisions and moves up the career ladder. Nepot is the same favorite, while being a relative of the leader.

Also close in meaning are the concepts of "fellowship", "blat" and "tribalism".

Nepotism appeared in the Middle Ages in Italy, and more specifically in Rome, in the circles of the highest Catholic hierarchs - the popes. The pontiffs distributed important church posts (for example, the dignity of cardinals) to their close relatives.

Initially, Tsypin V. Nepotism became nepots. Great Russian encyclopedia nephews, since some Catholic hierarchs who took a vow of chastity did not have children (at least, legal ones). This is how the name of the phenomenon arose. Later, both formal and unofficial children were nepots. This phenomenon was especially widespread in the 15th – 16th centuries: in this way, during the Renaissance, it was possible to obtain significant land holdings. At the same time, the so-called papal dynasties were formed, for example the Medici or Borgia.

Under what conditions nepotism flourishes

Nepotism appears where formal social institutions do not work and relationships and corruption flourish. Therefore, one of the main reasons for the prevalence of this phenomenon in Russia remains low trust in state structures and authorities. So, according to polls, Trade Unions. VTsIOM VTsIOM, more than half of Russians believe that trade unions do not help workers defend their rights. Due to external instability, uncertainty about the future, bureaucracy, tax burden and mistrust Saltanova S. V. Trust in a mask. IQ. HSE to each other residents of our country use informal mechanisms for organizing processes.

Since managers need people whose reliability they can have confidence in, professional competence in such conditions fades into the background. Nepots adopt this management style and in the same way build relationships with their own subordinates.

A survey of Russian engineering students conducted in 2016–2017 by the FCTAS RAS showed that 23% of them, thanks to their connections, entered universities, and 31% found a job. Similar tendencies are characteristic of the entire sphere of mental work.

Nepotism is characteristic not only of Russia. At the highest level, it occurs:

In Azerbaijan, where the President appoints the Meeting of Security Council held under chairmanship of President Ilham Aliyev. AzerTAC is the vice-president of his wife, and also does not hesitate to put other relatives in important posts.
In Cambodia, where the sons of the leaders of the ruling party occupied Sokchea M. Sons of the party anointed. The Phnon Penh Post high positions after none of them garnered enough votes to enter parliament.
In Romania, where the president's daughter was En Roumanie, les Basescu, père et fille. L'express was elected to the European Parliament without having the relevant professional and political experience.
In Venezuela, Romero S. Chávez family dogged by nepotism claims. The New York Times and many other countries.

Does this mean that nepotism is a phenomenon that is characteristic only of poor and lagging countries? Not at all.

Nepotism took deep roots in its homeland - in Italy. This is largely due to historical and cultural prerequisites: the special place of the family in the picture of the world of Italians and the foundations of the country's political system, because papal nepotism flourished here in the Middle Ages. So, Lucia Pagano, daughter of the former councilor of the Chamber of Deputies (lower house of the Italian parliament) Rodolfo Pagano, became Rizzo S. Consiglieri, commessi e segretari. Ecco il Parlamento dei parenti. Corriere Roma as its General Secretary.

However, nepotism is also found in those developed countries where there are no such prerequisites for it, as in Italy. Examples of nepotism are found in France. Poll shows majority against job for Sarkozy's son. Reuters, Belgium Hurst M. Tobback: making his mark. IPE, Spain La larga carrera de un hombre polifacético. El Pais, UK Proctor C. The Queen to confer 36 new peerages as allegations of nepotism are made. Royal Center and USA Kushner J. Trump names son-in-law Jared Kushner as senior adviser, testing anti-nepotism law. The Guardian.

Why nepotism is dangerous

Nepotism as a form of favoritism is called one of the reasons for the stagnation of the economy. Ineffective decisions of people who do not fit the positions they occupy contribute to ruin and decline at both the local and state levels. In particular, the promotion of their people is considered one of the reasons for the "brain drain" - the emigration of specialists from Russia.

At the same time, nepotism creates a vicious circle: having appeared due to an unfavorable climate in society, it creates the conviction that it is impossible to build a career in any other way, except by acquaintance.

Thus, according to a study conducted by the Levada Center (included in the register of foreign agents) for Sberbank, in 2013 the number of people who believe that acquaintances and connections determine personal success increased from 53% to 59%. The same trend (from 38% to 45%) was demonstrated by the opinion that those who have high-ranking relatives have more prospects. The assessments of other criteria of success did not change: energy, ability - 50%; hard work - 18%.

The main harm of nepotism is that it contributes to the spread of corruption, since family and friendships help to hide corruption-related crimes.

Thus, the spheres of politics, management, bureaucracy become accessible only to the closed caste of the closest circle of politicians, managers and officials, respectively.

Nepotism is also harmful for private companies. So, because of the privileges of their people, other employees lose motivation and a sense of stability, because they have no hope of promotion. Employees who are not part of the “inner circle” fear redundancy or demotion for the sake of someone else's godfather.

Themselves "thieves" at the same time can Mondi RU Personnel management. SPb. 2004 to work carelessly or completely forget about your duties and not show up at work, feeling impunity and not afraid of losing your “warm place”. Competition disappears, initiative is not encouraged, and many good ideas are not implemented. Sometimes it comes to the point that useless positions and even entire departments appear in the company, the only task of which is to attach nepot.

All of this creates a conflict of interest. Intrigues arise in the team, an unhealthy atmosphere is formed, and disgruntled employees quit.

It is worth noting that nepot can be a completely capable and hardworking person who takes responsibility for his duties. In addition, there are many successful family businesses in which relatives hold leadership positions. But this rather refers to the fact of hiring a competent loved one, and not to nepotism as a form of corruption and blat.

How to defeat nepotism and is it possible in principle

The roots of nepotism lie in the very nature of man - the desire to help loved ones and take care of them. Therefore, it is very difficult to defeat the phenomenon, if not impossible.

Nevertheless, certain legislative measures to combat nepotism exist in our country. For example, it is forbidden to admit to the civil service parents, spouses, children, brothers and sisters, as well as other close relatives of an employee, if one of them is a boss and the other is a subordinate.

However, this limitation is not so difficult to get around if a person has extensive connections in the area in which he works. And it does not apply to distant relatives (the same grandchildren, nephews or spouses of parents) and friends. In addition, many people maintain close ties with colleagues even after leaving office. It also allows you to bypass the ban.

A similar measure, which will apply to all employees, cannot be implemented within the framework of the Labor Code. Therefore, it is worth referring to the experience of some Western companies, in the charters of which any form of favoritism is prohibited and nepotism is limited. However, here, too, the question arises as to whether these prescriptions will be fulfilled.

A more effective means of combating nepotism and favoritism can be the institution of rotation - periodic replacement - of civil servants.

The most effective way to reduce the popularity of nepotism is Kabashov S. Yu. Settlement of conflicts of interest and combating corruption in the civil and municipal service: theory and practice: a textbook. M. 2014 in the plane of public relations.

A high level of trust and mutual understanding between citizens and the state, respect for the law, civic conscience, intolerance of corruption and abuse can be much more effective than prohibitions.

In fact, nepotism is disrespect, and not only towards those who are not in the environment of a person, but also towards the nepots themselves. Appointing them to positions means recognizing that by themselves they do not know how to do anything and will not be able to achieve anything. Public censure and a strong opinion that being nepot is bad, and that you need to achieve something in life on your own, is the best cure for nepotism and everything connected with it.