Cronyism

Categories: Corruption | Politics stubs

Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to public office without regard for their qualifications. The word "cronyism" is always used derogatorily.

Governments are particularly susceptible to accusations of cronyism as they spend public money. This is why democratic governments are encouraged to have transparency in their accounting and contracting processes.

Virtually all Presidents of the United States have been accused of cronyism by someone at some time. But since the word means appointment of long-standing friends who are not qualified for the position, the appointment of long-standing friends who are qualified is not cronyism; this would be more akin to political patronage, where political supporters or merely members of the same party are appointed by the patron in power.

Examples

One case, which surfaced in 2005, involved the Toronto City Council executive director of Municipal Licensing and Standards, Pam Coburn, and her director of investigations, Joseph Carnevale.

Many have accused U.S. President George W. Bush of cronyism, including his appointment of Michael D. Brown, former commissioner of judges and stewards for the Lyons, Colorado based International Arabian Horse Association, to the head of FEMA. Also, the same could be said of the nomination of Harriet Miers to the US Supreme Court, as a majority of Miers' experiences is as a lawyer and not a judge.

Having served as Bush's personal lawyer some time prior to as the appointment to the position of White House Counsel after Bush's nomination of Alberto Gonzales to Attorney General. This nomination would not qualify as cronyism because Gonzales is, as a lawyer with years of practice and professional experience, actually qualified for the position.

See also: nepotism

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