Job Discussion Forums

tudodude · Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Posts: 82

Wasta.......................i see it alot.........what does it mean

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Think nepotism..... X 10......... and realise you won't benefit from it Cool

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject:

There's no real translation for "wasta", which comes from the same root as 'middle'. In practice, "wasta' refers to using your personal influence (or, more usaually, that of a friend or relative) to obtain some form of special treatment. Examples of the fruits of 'wasta' include getting your son into college, skipping the queue in the hospital clinic, getting a seat on a 'fully booked' flight - and just about anything else besides.

007 · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:32 pm Post subject:

The most dangerous 'Wasta' is the political 'Wasta', where a big Emir can interfere and nominate or put a person in a specific political or admnistrative position (e.g. Minister, VC of a university, Director of an organization, etc). And this may happen as well in the vote, as it happened last time!

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

In Spanish 'enchufe'.
In English, 'connections.'

Taiwanlight Zone · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 25 Location: Danshui, Taiwan

And in Chinese "Guanxi". World-wide phenomenon I think but possibly with worse effects on some societies than on others.

KSA-UK · Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 31 Location: Sandy Arabia

In French, "piston" and in Saudi, "vitamin W" or "vitamin waw"... Laughing

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

Wasta exists so strongly in KSA because of the inefficiency of their systems, particularly when it comes to governmental work like visas, passports etc.

Robski · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Middle Europe

Well, you've either got it or you haven't. Like a nuclear missile, its mystery is in its non-use. And like a class full of countries, you're not sure how many of them have got one. Confused

goingbald · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 15 Location: Earth

Steady on, ladies and gentlemen, before you assume that you will not benefit from wasta. One never knows.

Wasta is as SJ said. Connections. Not what you know, but who(m) you know.

Wasta has good and bad applications. If you're not oppressing anybody, there's no harm. However, if, for example, your benefit from wasta causes someone else to lose their job, which they wouldn't normally have lost, then it's bad, innit.

gb

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

Stephen, I am glad you think so, because my experiences and many Saudis I know, have been extremely bad with governmental paperwork.

colt · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Milky Way

In Iran "partee- barzee".

And I have been the beneficiary of wasta many times.

When standing in long lines at government bureaucracies and hearing the sweetest words:

"Hello my teacher!"

Then into the boss's office to be introduced, tea and bisquits forthcoming, and the papers stamped and handcarried to you and you're on your way.