Arab News provides a translation of an article appearing in the Arabic daily Al-Eqtisadiah (The Economy) which complains about the lingering effects of ‘Vitamin W’—wasta. The use of personal connections and influence is very much a part of traditional Arab culture, but it presents serious problems when it comes to ensuring that the most technically qualified person is in the right job. It’s not unlike how American politics and the military were run in the early- and middle-19th C. in the US, where who you were decided what you did, from postmaster to army general. The bloody results of battles in the American Civil War were in part due to the utter incompetence of military officers who were selected as leaders based on family connections.
While competence is clearly seen as a necessary measure of suitability to jobs, it’s hard to override the patron/client relationships by which the Arab world functions for most of its history. The problem is clearly identified. The solution, though, will require a change in social attitudes and that’s a slow process.
We Need More Vitamin ‘W’
Ibrahim Al-Yousuf • Al-EqtisadiahVitamin “W†is essential these days to successfully enroll at universities and colleges, and to secure jobs. This magical vitamin, which is derived from the concept of “wasta,†is something that is highly coveted in the Kingdom, where jobs and university places are scarce.
Vitamin W, which could also be described as “mediation,†is basically a method of depriving a youngster from his or her right and handing it to another undeserving individual.
We all hear about young girls and boys, who have graduated from high school with high GPAs but failed to gain admission at their desired university. Meanwhile, others who had less grades have gained admission having used sufficient dosages of vitamin W that works magic on people in this country. Young and unqualified men and women are also known to have been employed at the expense of others, who are more qualified and worthy of these jobs.
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September:16:2007 - 08:19
[...] and, thank God, their military arms — so almost uniformly incompetent and corrupt? Well, John Burgess doesn’t quite put the question that way (he wouldn’t), but he explains that the problem [...]
September:16:2007 - 08:19
“mediation” is a very euphemistic way to put. Just as in the states a hundred years ago corruption wreaked havoc, so today in Saudi. I would say that a growing number of Saudi’s, especially in the private sector, have a love/hate relationship with “wasta.” It seems that many people feel that yes, it is not good or that even it is destroying the country but they have to take advantage of it in order to stay in business.
There is wasta everywhere in the world, but in Saudi it is endemic, and there is no check against it. There are no such thing as equal opportunity laws, etc.
I can’t see any significant structural change in this generation. The leadership, hangers-on, and many common people benefit too much to let go of this system. Because of the wasta system the people who would benefit most by its disappearance have very little power in working on their own behalf.
I’ve seen enough ambitious students, young businessmen, etc., give up and settle for dead end jobs, or be on unemployment, because they have no other choice. At the least, what a waste.
It would take a principled person(s) at the top of the power structure in order to make change that truly benefited the common people of the land.
I’ll let the leaders of the country be judged by their actions on this one.
September:16:2007 - 08:19
well, as you all know the same problems avaliable in all countries especially in western world like europe and usa etc..those who only accuse saudi of such! well they are a true liers! wasta is every where….and it takes different forms! so do not be foolish people…..