Wasta (influence)

Wasta is an Arabic expression that loosely translates into ‘who you know’. It refers to using one’s influence or connections to get things done, such as quick renewal of a passport, waiving of traffic fines, and even garnering prestigious jobs.Wasta is deeply ingrained in Middle East culture, having been the de facto way of getting things done for decades.

Etymology

Wasta is derived from the Modern Standard Arabic word "Waseet"( وسيط) which commonly means medium but also often means something akin to intermediary, intercessor, or middle-man.

A Bahraini diarist provides some information about how the practice originated.

"The system evolved to preserve the social structure of the tribe. It allowed for the leadership to distribute the tribe's wealth as they deemed in their wisdom and experience would preserve peace and harmony. They would grant access to opportunities to those most deserving or to those who would otherwise be left behind, at their discretion. It is also important to keep the tribe from weakening itself, therefore internal competition is avoided."

Consider the following hypothetical situation in which Wasta could come into play:

You've just gotten into a car accident and it was clearly your fault, but you're not worried. You have some good connections within the police department and justice ministry. As a result, the other driver is determined to be at fault and pays for the damage to your car. Furthermore, companies in the Arab world rarely have a ‘no-nepotism’ policy in place, so one can often find a workforce consisting of many unqualified relatives and friends. In countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain, the phenomenon of “phantom jobs”- a distinguished and highly-paid position that is superfluous- is common, especially in large governmental organizations such as oil companies, airports, etc. Not restricted to Arab nationals, Wasta is also practiced by expatriates who use their connections to garner favors such as concert tickets, exclusive license plates, and expedited permits and visas.

With respect to recruitment, there seems to be a movement away from this trend, especially in the case of multinationals and professional firms. However, in many other, Wasta is still an integral part of life in the region.

References http://www.aqoul.com/archives/2005/07/the_wonders_of.php http://desertislandboy.blogs.com/home/2004/11/where_nepotism_.html http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1740626