The other side of nepotism

Nepotism or the practice among powerful people of favouring their own relatives, especially by giving them lucrative jobs has been a much debated issue. However, the powers that be keep on showering their favours on their kith and kin no matter what moralists would say. Asia, more than the West, has the habit of giving favours to family members, friends and associates.

Cronyism or the practice among the powerful people of favouring their friends and companions goes hand in hand with nepotism. You might condemn both nepotism and cronyism or the practice among the powerful people of favouring their friends and companions goes hand in hand with nepotism. You might condemn both nepotism and cronyism as downright base practices, but they have continued to haunt Asian countries.

Main charge

Nepotism and cronyism get a lot of bad press that the then powerful United National Party was dubbed Unge Neyange Pakshaya (their own relatives' party) by the alternative press. What happens in practice is that most powerful people keep on giving contracts and jobs to their relatives, friends, and associates. The main charge levelled against nepotism and cronyism is that these practices lead to inefficiency, inequities, and irregularities in both the public and private sectors. Recent unfortunate events in a certain group of companies can be cited as examples.

The critics of the two systems say that meritocracy (employing people of high ability or intelligence in key positions) and professionalism should take precedence over nepotism and cronyism. If the authorities adopt these systems, it is believed that all the transactions will be made on their own merit and those who apply for jobs will be selected on their own qualifications and intelligence.

This is an ideal situation even Plato would have relished. Even common sense says that there is nothing wrong in giving the devil his due. However, idealism is quite different from what is practised in asian societies. Even during the time of our kings nepotism an cronyism had been practised without a whimper. If you glance through Mahavamsa, you will notice that even kings had recognised the importance of family members and relations more than meritocracy and professionalism. However much you condemn such practices, relationship-based transactions remain an integral part of our culture.

"My people" or "our people", when appointed to key positions, give a sense of satisfaction and security. As the saying goes blood is thicker than water, relatives will stand by in a crisis situation. The professionals and those appointed under meritocracy will have no sense of belonging to the system. Therefore, those in authority favour their own people to get a job done well.

Security

When it comes to affairs of the State what finally matters is security. When rulers do not have a reliable network of social security, they are unlikely to move ahead with their plans. Apart from governing a country, even to run a small business you need trusted employees around you. How can you trust even a highly qualified individual if he is not related to you in some way?

As such, those in authority in the affairs of governing or business know well that meritocracy and professionalism can wait until they get the job done through their own people.

When you hire a relative or a friend to do an important job, you run the risk of losing profits at times. Unless he is a thorough misfit he will try to do a good job. Even if you stand to lose a little bit, you get the satisfaction of helping a relative or a friend and their immediate families.

Relationship

Nepotism and cronyism are not foolproof methods in State affairs or business organisations. If you appoint a person who is incompetent to handle a particular job, you have to blame yourself. Even in such cases, you can hold your relative or friend responsible because you have a close relationship with them. In the case of a stranger, he will simply vanish from the scene and you will have no hold on him. In the final analysis, nepotism and cronyism show that Asian societies are not secure enough to all back on meritocracy and professionalism. In the same breath we can say that both these ideals lack human warmth generated by nepotism and cronyism.