Wasta

Wasta or wasata (Arabic: ??????? w?si?ah) is an Arabic word that loosely translates into nepotism, 'clout' or 'who you know'. It refers to using one’s connections and/or influence to get things done, including government transactions such as the quick renewal of a passport, waiving of traffic fines, and getting hired for or promoted in a job.

In other words, it amounts to getting something through favoritism rather than merit, or what is informally spoken of in English as "pull" from connections (the opposite of "push"). The English word cronyism overlaps in meaning but is not precisely the same. Roughly equivalent words in other languages include sociolismo in Cuba; blat in Russia; guanxi in Chinese and Vetternwirtschaft in German, protektzia in Israeli slang, un pituto in Chilean Spanish, In Brazilian-Portuguese it is referred to as "pistolão", "QI" (Quem Indica, or Who Indicates), or in the slang "peixada", "Pidi Padu" in Malayalam, "arka" or "destek" in Turkish, "plecy" in Polish.

Etymology

Wasta is derived from the Modern Standard Arabic word ???????? (w?si?ah) which can mean medium, means but also personal connection used to gain something.

Furthermore, companies in the Arab world rarely have a 'no-nepotism' policy in place, so one can often find a workforce with friends and friends relatives who may or may not be qualified. This takes place in both the public and private sectors.

In many Arab countries, such as Oman, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, href="/

Release Date :

12:00am on Sunday 1st January 1989