Blat (Russia)

Blat ( _ru. блат, "blat") is a term which appeared in the Soviet Union to denote the use of informal agreements, prestation, exchangements of services, connections, Party contacts, or black market deals to achieve results or get ahead. Accordingly, blatnoy means a man who obtains a job or gets into a university using connections, prestation or sometimes bribes. The system of blat led to formation of social networks similar to Good ol' boy network, Old boy network, or Guanxi.In the Soviet republics, "blatnoy"s were very much in demand as it was difficult to gain a post or enroll in some prestigious majors in universities without proper connections.

Origin

The original meaning of the word (adjective or noun) blatnoy ( _ru. блатной) is "criminal" or "belonging to criminal subculture" (for example, "blatnoy language" (see Fenya), "blatnoy behavior", "blatnoy outlook"). See also "blatnyak" song style. The adverbial usage of the word is po blatu ( _ru. по блату), meaning "by blat".

Usage

The word was primarily used to describe business relationships, when people made each a favour in exchange for another favour. Because in the Soviet Union, the Gosplan wasn't able to calculate efficient or even feasible plans, enterprises often had to rely on people with connections, who could then use blat to help fulfill the quotas. Eventually most enterprises came to have a dedicated supply specialist - a "tolkach" (literally "pusher") - to perform this task.

ee also

*Social capital