Wasta
Wasta or wāsita (Arabic: واسِطة, romanized: wāsiṭah) is an Arabic word that loosely translates into nepotism or 'clout'. It refers to the use of personal connections or influence to achieve desired outcomes, particularly in governmental contexts. This can include expedited document processing, visa approvals, waiving of fines, or securing employment opportunities. The term is also extended to cronyism and nepotism in the allotment of public sector jobs.
In other words, wasta constitutes a form of favoritism, or what is informally spoken of in English as "pull" from connections (the opposite of "push"). Similar practices are observed worldwide, known as cronyism in English, sociolismo in Cuba, blat in Russia, guanxi in China, Vetternwirtschaft in Germany, protektzia in Israeli slang, and un pituto in Chilean Spanish. In Brazilian-Portuguese it is referred to as pistolão, QI (Quem Indica, or Who Indicates), or in the slang peixada, pidi padu in Malayalam, arka or destek or torpil in Turkish, plecy in Polish, štela in Bosnian, veza in Serbian, and Piston in French.
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