Nepotism: A treacherous form of corruption

Abed Khazndar
Al-Riyadh newspaper

In my previous article about non-compliance of official working hours by employees which I considered a form of corruption, a reader commented, “It is noted that your concern on non-compliance to working hours (despite being very dangerous) is amplified, and you had not addressed nepotism with the same attack, although nepotism is more dangerous than being tardy as the former devastates the country and ruins the careers of many good people.”

I totally agree with the reader and would like to let him know that nepotism is not limited to our country alone. In some countries like the US, it operates under the law.

There are official agencies called lobbies, most of which are located on the 14th Street in Washington. These lobbies represent all stakeholders, including electricity and car companies, weapons manufacturers and all types of commercial businesses. These lobbies are engaged in relationships with members of Congress that are not free from exchanging interests, presenting gifts and sometimes endowments to the extent that it is said 14th Street governs the US more than the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue.

In our country, it is no secret that almost nothing can be done or achieved without nepotism even if one was in the right, such as getting a job or promotion or admission to a hospital or university, getting a building permit, connecting electricity or water, or booking an airline ticket.

One can name practically any service or transaction and its road passes through nepotism. Needless to say, nepotism is a crime against others and against society, as the one who obtains something like a job through nepotism achieves it at the expense of another who is more deserving.

The same applies to getting a bed in the hospital, as this is often at the expense of another patient who had been waiting for months to get it. Do not ask me how to fight nepotism as this is what all societies have to grapple with.