Encyklopedia Administracji Publicznej MW Pivot Skin

FAVOURITISM, NEPOTISM AND CRONYISM – negative phenomena from the perspective of observing the principles of public service, but often underestimated and unnoticed. Favouritism is defined as a system of relations in which favourites have positions and influences, cronyism – as mutual support of people related by kinship, intimacy, common, not always honest, interests, and nepotism – as abuse of position by favouring, protecting people closely privately related with an official/politician, his/her relatives. The adverse effects of these phenomena can occur not only within public administration structures (example – financial costs related to decisions made by incompetent, but for example, related employees, or unfavourable and not optimal choices in public tenders), but also – as a result of social and economic impact – beyond it. High level of n. destroys citizens’ trust in public institutions. N. or c. collide with the principle of justice, which consolidates society and forms the basis of a democratic state. Justice in this sense relates to equality between citizens and equal treatment of citizens by public institutions [ J. Itrich-Drabarek ].

Literature: J. Itrich-Drabarek, Uwarunkowania, standardy i kierunki zmian służby cywilnej w Polsce na tle europejskim [Conditions, standards and directions of changes in the civil service in Poland against the European background], Warszawa 2010.