Cronyism#India: High command culture

{{short description|Practice of authority figures awarding positions to friends as a reward}}

Cronyism is a specific form of in-group favoritism, the spoils system practice of partiality in awarding jobs and other advantages to friends or trusted colleagues, especially in politics and between politicians and supportive organizations.{{cite web|url=http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/cronyism|title=cronyism American English definition and synonyms - Macmillan Dictionary}} For example, cronyism occurs when appointing "cronies" to positions of authority regardless of their qualifications.{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cronyism?s=t|title=the definition of cronyism|publisher=dictionary.reference.com}} This is in contrast to a meritocracy, in which appointments are made based on merit. Politically, "cronyism" is derogatorily used to imply buying and selling favors, such as votes in legislative bodies, doing favors to organizations, or giving desirable ambassadorships to exotic places.{{cite news|url=http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/focusareas/government_ethics/introduction/cronyism.html|title=Favoritism, Cronyism, and Nepotism|first1=Judy|last1=Nadler|first2=Miriam|last2=Schulman|publisher=Santa Clara University|access-date=20 June 2013}}

Etymology

The word crony first appeared in 17th-century London, according to the Oxford English Dictionary; it is believed to be derived from the Greek word {{lang|grc|χρόνιος}} ({{transliteration|grc|chronios}}), meaning {{gloss|long term}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/crony?view=uk|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718210536/http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/crony?view=uk|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 July 2012|title=Oxford Dictionaries - Dictionary, Thesaurus, & Grammar|access-date=2 July 2015}}

A less likely but oft-quoted source is the supposed Irish term {{lang|ga|Comh-Roghna}}, which translates as {{gloss|close pals, mutual friends}}.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

Concept

Government officials are particularly susceptible to accusations of cronyism, as they spend taxpayers' money. Many democratic governments are encouraged to practice administrative transparency in accounting and contracting, but there often is no clear delineation of when an appointment to government office is "cronyism".{{cite web| url= https://www.ced.org/cronycapitalism | website= CED.com| publisher= Committee for Economic Development | title= Crony Capitalism: Unhealthy Relations Between Business and Government| date= | accessdate=}}

In the private sector, cronyism exists in organizations, often termed "the old boys' club" or "the golden circle"; again, the boundary between cronyism and "networking" is difficult to delineate.{{cite web| url=http://thefreemarketeers.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/do-old-boys-clubs-make-the-market-more-efficient/|title=Do Old Boys' Clubs Make The Market More Efficient?|author=Staff|year=2010|publisher=The Free Marketeers|access-date=26 April 2012}}

It is not unusual for politicians to surround themselves with highly qualified subordinates, and to develop social, business, or political friendships leading to the appointment to office of friends, likewise in granting government contracts. In fact, the counsel of such friends is why the officeholder successfully obtained their powerful position; therefore, cronyism is usually easier to perceive than to demonstrate and prove.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}{{original research inline |date=September 2019}}{{Inconsistent|date=June 2021}} Politicians with representatives of business, and other special interests, such as trade unions and professional organizations get "crony business" done in political agreements, especially by "reasonable" and lucrative honorariums to the politician for making speeches, or by legal donations to one's election campaign or to one's political party, etc.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}{{original research inline|date=July 2018}}

Cronyism describes relationships existing among mutual acquaintances in private organizations where business, business information, and social interaction are exchanged among influential personnel. This is termed crony capitalism, and is an ethical breach of the principles of the market economy; in advanced economies, crony capitalism is a breach of market regulations.

Given crony capitalism's nature, these dishonest business practices are frequently (yet not exclusively) found in societies with ineffective legal systems. Consequently, there is an impetus upon the legislative branch of a government to ensure enforcement of the legal code capable of addressing and redressing private party manipulation of the economy by the involved businessmen and their government cronies.

The economic and social costs of cronyism are paid by society. Those costs are in the form of reduced business opportunity for the majority of the population, reduced competition in the marketplace, inflated consumer goods prices, decreased economic performance, inefficient business investment cycles, reduced motivation in affected organizations, and the diminution of economically productive activity. A practical cost of cronyism manifests in the poor workmanship of public and private community projects.

Cronyism is self-perpetuating; cronyism then begets a culture of cronyism. This can only be apprehended by a comprehensive, effective, and enforced legal code, with empowered government agencies that can effect prosecutions in the courts.

Some instances{{Example needed|s|date=May 2021}} of cronyism are readily transparent. With others,{{Example needed|s|date=May 2021}} it is only in hindsight that the qualifications of the alleged "crony" must be evaluated. All appointments that are suspected of being cronyism are controversial. The appointed party may choose to either suppress disquiet or ignore it, depending upon the society's level of freedom of expression and individual personal liberty.

References

External links

"[https://www.scu.edu/government-ethics/resources/what-is-government-ethics/favoritism-cronyism-and-nepotism/ Favoritism, Cronyism, and Nepotism]". Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University.
[http://www.current.tv/pods/supernews/PD00567 SuperNews: Hurricane Katrina] - A political flash cartoon about the cronyism surrounding Michael D. Brown and Hurricane Katrina.

Category:Corruption

Category:Political terminology of the United States

Category:Oligarchy

Category:Nepotism

Category:Public choice theory

Category:Group processes

Category:Politics of India

Cronyism#India: High command culture

Etymology

Concept

See also

References

Further reading

External links