Nepotism is the act of granting an advantage , privilege, or position to relatives and friends in an occupation or field. These fields can include business, politics, academia, entertainment, religion or health care. In concept it is similar to cronyism. Nepotism has been criticized since ancient history by philosophers including Aristotle , Valluvar , and Confucius , condemning it as both evil and unwise.
The term comes from Italian word nepotismo , [ 5 ] [ 6 ] which is based on Latin root nepos meaning nephew. Several popes elevated nephews and other relatives to the cardinalate. Often, such appointments were a means of continuing a papal "dynasty". In the second book of the Kural literature , which forms a manual for governments and corporations, Valluvar suggests about nepotism and favouritism thus:. If you choose an unfit person for your job just because you love and you like him, he will lead you to endless follies.
According to him, nepotism is both evil and unwise. Nepotism is a common accusation in politics when the relative of a powerful figure ascends to similar power seemingly without appropriate qualifications. The British English expression " Bob's your uncle " is thought to have originated when Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury , promoted his nephew, Arthur Balfour , to the esteemed post of Chief Secretary for Ireland , which was widely seen as an act of nepotism.
Inheritance has been viewed by some as a form of nepotism. Nepotism in organizations leads to monopolization of power because when members involved in institutional decision-making are related, decisions made within institutions risk favoring a group of closely connected people.
Nepotism can also occur within organizations, when a person is employed due to their familial ties. Nepotism at work can mean increased opportunity at a job, attaining a job or being paid more than other similarly situated people. On one hand, nepotism can provide stability and continuity. Critics cite studies that demonstrate decreased morale and commitment from non-related employees, [ 22 ] and a generally negative attitude towards superior positions filled through nepotism.
