Difference between revisions of "Palanca (Mexico)"

| nameofpractice = Palanca

| nameofpractice = Palanca

| flagemoji = 🇲🇽

| flagemoji = 🇲🇽

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|style="font-size:1.1em;"| Etymologically, the term ''palanca'' has a Latin root ''palanga'', in turn related to a Greek root ''phálanx'' or ''phálangos''. Literally, it denotes a wooden roller or trunk, used to move large weights off the ground or to slide boats off the sand into the sea. In our case, the term lever can be better associated with Archimedes’ saying ‘give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the earth'. A lever, with a suitable point of support, can move (almost) anything.

|style="font-size:1.1em;"| Etymologically, the term ''palanca'' has a Latin root ''palanga'', in turn related to a Greek root ''phálanx'' or ''phálangos''. Literally, it denotes a wooden roller or trunk, used to move large weights off the ground or to slide boats off the sand into the sea. In our case, the term lever can be better associated with Archimedes’ saying ‘give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the earth'. A lever, with a suitable point of support, can move (almost) anything.

The problem-solver generally maintains an expectation of reciprocity for the favour given, a reciprocity that does not necessarily need to occur immediately and to be pecuniary or material. In this sense, the recipient of the favour becomes indebted to the problem-solver, and generally in a very ambiguous manner. The recipient’s obligation needs to be negotiated and communicated in a subtle way: sometimes explicitly, but more often implicitly, depending on custom, situation, and magnitude of the favour delivered.  

The problem-solver generally maintains an expectation of reciprocity for the favour given, a reciprocity that does not necessarily need to occur immediately and to be pecuniary or material. In this sense, the recipient of the favour becomes indebted to the problem-solver, and generally in a very ambiguous manner. The recipient’s obligation needs to be negotiated and communicated in a subtle way: sometimes explicitly, but more often implicitly, depending on custom, situation, and magnitude of the favour delivered.  

Expectations of reciprocity create durable links between people based on mutual obligation or duty to provide support and share their influences and resources with other persons, creating a de facto network of acquaintances sharing different ''palancas''. This network is based on the existence of people who, depending on circumstances, are, or are presumed to be, in position to intervene and help to ʻfind a wayʼ, finding ʻthe correct routeʼ (by bending the formal rules or allowing an exception) in order to resolve a problem or need of a member of the network. ''Palanca'' is not exclusive to Mexico. Variations of the practice exist in other countries of Central and South America.

Expectations of reciprocity create durable links between people based on mutual obligation or duty to provide support and share their influences and resources with other persons, creating a de facto network of acquaintances sharing different ''palancas''. This network is based on the existence of people who, depending on circumstances, are, or are presumed to be, in position to intervene and help to ʻfind a wayʼ, finding ʻthe correct routeʼ (by bending the formal rules or allowing an exception) in order to resolve a problem or need of a member of the network. ''Palanca'' is not exclusive to Mexico. Variations of the practice exist in other countries of Central and South America.