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'Nepotism' is the showing of favoritism toward relatives, based upon that relationship, rather than on an objective evaluation of ability or suitability. For instance, offering employment to a relative, despite the fact that there are others who are better qualified and willing to perform the job, would be considered a form of nepotism. The word ''nepotism'' is from the Latin word 'nepos', meaning "nephew" or "grandchild".
The popular British English expression "Bob's your uncle" is often 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 in what was widely seen as an act of nepotism.

Contents

Papal nepotism

Examples

References

See also

Papal nepotism

Main articles: Cardinal-nephew

In the Middle Ages, some Catholic popes and bishops, who had taken vows of chastity, and therefore usually had no children of their own, gave their nephews positions of preference such as were often accorded by fathers to sons^[1]. Several popes are known to have elevated nephews and other relatives to the cardinalate. Often, such appointments were used as a means of continuing a papal "dynasty". For instance, Pope Callixtus III, head of the Borgia family, made two of his nephews Cardinals; one of them, Rodrigo, later used his position as a Cardinal as a stepping stone to the papacy, becoming Pope Alexander VI^[2]. Coincidentally, Alexander—one of the most corrupt popes—elevated Alessandro Farnese, his mistress's brother, to the cardinalate; Farnese would later go on to become Pope Paul III^[3]. Paul also engaged in nepotism, appointing, for instance, two nephews (aged fourteen and sixteen) Cardinals. The practice was finally ended when Pope Innocent XII issued a bull ''Romanum decet Pontificem'' in 1692^[1]. The papal bull prohibited popes in all times from bestowing estates, offices, or revenues on any relative, with the exception that one qualified relative (at most) could be made a Cardinal.

Examples

Nepotism is a common accusation in politics when the relative of a powerful figure ascends to similar power seemingly without appropriate qualifications. For example, when U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski, was elected Governor of Alaska, he appointed his daughter, State Representative Lisa Murkowski, to fill the remaining two years of his seat and was accused by some of nepotism. (Murkowski won reelection on her own in 2004.) John F. Kennedy was accused of nepotism for his appointment of his brother Robert Kennedy as Attorney General.
South African Rugby Union (Saru) vice-president Mike Stofile was appointed by the ANC and his brother Makhenkesi Stofile the Sports Minister in 2006.
Families elsewhere have also dominated politics of their homeland, such as Tun Abdul Razak, the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, and his son, Najib Tun Razak, the current Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Another case includes Khairy Jamaluddin who won his position as Deputy Chief of UMNO Youth Wing with the influence of his father-in-law, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the current Malaysian Prime Minister. Many countries in Asia have this tilt towards dynastic rule. In India, the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has been ruling India for the most part since Independence while other people in various states in India have always given preference to their kith and kin. In the Indian state of Bihar, the former Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, widely known as one of the most corrupt Indian politicians, elevated his nearly-illiterate wife Rabri Devi to the post of Chief Minister, after a court ruling sentenced him on a corruption case making him unfit for the post. President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom once had 13 of his brothers, brothers-in-law, and classmates as members of his cabinet.
At some point, nepotism at high levels of government might serve to create what are in effect monarchies in nominal republics. For instance, the succession of Bashar al-Assad as President of Syria after his father Hafez's death is nepotism carried out to that extent; the likely similar succession of Gamal Mubarak to the Presidency of Egypt upon Hosni Mubarak's death is equivalent. Had there not had been an overthrow of the government of Saddam Hussein with the US-led invasion, it would have been highly likely that his youngest of two sons, Qusay Hussein, would have been appointed to the position of presidency of Iraq.
In Romania ''nepotism'' is very commonly used as a word describing a 'connection' (relationship) that allows a person to obtain a certain job. 'Nepot' in Romanian means "nephew" or "grandson". During communist rule, nepotism was often the only way of getting a good, well-paid or otherwise advantageous job.

References

1. Article Nepotism

2. Article Pope Alexander VI

3. Article Pope Paul III

4. Article Nepotism



★ ''American Calendar'' (Fall 1973) in ''American Quarterly'' 25.4 (Oct. 1973):493-96.

★ ''"Privilege in America: Who's Shutting You Out?--On a Special Two-Hour '20/20,' Friday, November 3.'' Press release. ABC November 2, 2006. Accessed November 20, 2006. Broken?

★ ''[1]'' Nepotism - Dictionary.com

See also

★ Cronyism

★ Simony

★ Ingroup bias

★ Ethnic nepotism

★ List of cardinal-nephews