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{{infobox | {{infobox | ||
| nameofpractice =Zalatwianie | |||
| flagemoji = 🇵🇱 | |||
| definition =Getting something done in an easier way, euphemism describing a range of informal behaviours carried out mostly to obtain benefits by avoiding the use of arduous legal activities or formal norms | |||
| location =Poland | |||
| imagemap =Poland map.png | |||
| clusters = | |||
}} | [[:Category:Redistribution|Redistribution]] – [[:Category: Substantive ambivalence| Substantive ambivalence]] – [[:Category: Instrumentality of sociability| Instrumentality of sociability]] – [[:Category: Economies of favours| Economies of favours]] – [[:Category: Getting things done| Getting things done]] | ||
| categories = | |||
[[:Category:Poland|Poland]] – [[:Category: CEE| CEE]] – [[:Category: Europe| Europe]] – [[:Category: EU| EU]] – [[:Category: Euphemism| Euphemism]] – [[:Category: Rule-bending| Rule-bending]] – [[:Category: Access| Access]] – [[:Category: Favour| Favour]] | |||
| authorofpiece =Paulina Pieprzyca | |||
| authorinstitution =Transparency International, UK | |||
| authorwebsite =[https://transparency.eu/author/paulina-pieprzyca/ Profile page at TI]}} | |||
<big>'''By Paulina Pieprzyca, Transparency International, UK'''</big> | |||
[[Category:Redistribution]] | |||
[[Category: Substantive ambivalence]] | |||
[[Category: Instrumentality of sociability]] | |||
[[Category: Economies of favours]] | |||
[[Category: Getting things done]] | |||
[[Category:Poland]] | |||
[[Category: CEE]] | |||
[[Category: Europe]] | |||
[[Category: EU]] | |||
[[Category: Euphemism]] | |||
[[Category: Rule-bending]] | |||
[[Category: Access]] | |||
[[Category: Favour]] | |||
[[Category:Entry]] | |||
[[Category: Volume 1]] | |||
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''Załatwianie'' (verbal form: to ''załatwić'' something) is a Polish euphemism describing a number of informal behaviours, carried out mostly to obtain benefits by avoiding the use of arduous legal activities or formal norms<ref>Słownik Języka Polskiego PWN. 2007. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.</ref>. In a rough translation, the phrase ‘''załatwić'' something’ means ‘to get something done’ or ‘to get something done in an easier way’; it is related to the verb ''ułatwić'', which means ‘to do something easier’. The etymology of ''załatwić'' derives from the word ''łatwy'' (easy) with the prefix ‘''za''’, which means that something has been done and/or completed. The word ''załatwić'' has its origins in Slavonic languages, but its final form has only developed in Polish<ref>Słownik Języka Polskiego PWN. 2007. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.</ref>. Therefore, ''załatwianie'' cannot be directly translated into any other language. | ''Załatwianie'' (verbal form: to ''załatwić'' something) is a Polish euphemism describing a number of informal behaviours, carried out mostly to obtain benefits by avoiding the use of arduous legal activities or formal norms<ref>Słownik Języka Polskiego PWN. 2007. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.</ref>. In a rough translation, the phrase ‘''załatwić'' something’ means ‘to get something done’ or ‘to get something done in an easier way’; it is related to the verb ''ułatwić'', which means ‘to do something easier’. The etymology of ''załatwić'' derives from the word ''łatwy'' (easy) with the prefix ‘''za''’, which means that something has been done and/or completed. The word ''załatwić'' has its origins in Slavonic languages, but its final form has only developed in Polish<ref>Słownik Języka Polskiego PWN. 2007. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.</ref>. Therefore, ''załatwianie'' cannot be directly translated into any other language. | ||
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Other meanings of the word ''załatwić'' include the phrase ‘''załatwić'' someone’, which means to eliminate (kill) or to professionally disable a person, i.e. to thwart their professional aims, such as being promoted. The phrase often appears in Polish criminal films, but also in discussions about murders, when people instead of saying, ‘he killed him’, rather use the phrase ‘on go ''załatwił''’, which can be translated as ‘he made him that way’ or ‘he made him dead’. In the second case, a person who wishes to ''załatwić'' another can, for example, spread some compromising information about them so they cannot be promoted (a tactic particularly used among politicians) <ref>Słownik Języka Polskiego PWN. 2007. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.</ref>. | Other meanings of the word ''załatwić'' include the phrase ‘''załatwić'' someone’, which means to eliminate (kill) or to professionally disable a person, i.e. to thwart their professional aims, such as being promoted. The phrase often appears in Polish criminal films, but also in discussions about murders, when people instead of saying, ‘he killed him’, rather use the phrase ‘on go ''załatwił''’, which can be translated as ‘he made him that way’ or ‘he made him dead’. In the second case, a person who wishes to ''załatwić'' another can, for example, spread some compromising information about them so they cannot be promoted (a tactic particularly used among politicians) <ref>Słownik Języka Polskiego PWN. 2007. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.</ref>. | ||
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Most frequently people can ''załatwić'' something via other people (relatives, friends, acquaintances) who are in a position that enables them to help provide or enable it. For example, one can ''załatwić'' a medical examination or a priority appointment with a doctor if he or she knows someone working in a hospital, such as a doctor or doctor’s friend. It is also possible for some people to ''załatwić'' something on behalf of others if they are in a position of power. Very often parents try to ''załatwić'' a first job for their adult children (e.g. just after graduation), exploiting their social networks and position on the labour market. This is still a very common practice in Poland<ref>Tomaszkewicz B. 2012. 'Problem Nepotyzmu – Polska radzi z nim sobie gorzej niż inne kraje', Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, 13 August, http://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/artykuly/639545,problem_nepotyzmu_polska_radzi_sobie_z_nim_gorzej_niz_inne_kraje.html</ref>. | Most frequently people can ''załatwić'' something via other people (relatives, friends, acquaintances) who are in a position that enables them to help provide or enable it. For example, one can ''załatwić'' a medical examination or a priority appointment with a doctor if he or she knows someone working in a hospital, such as a doctor or doctor’s friend. It is also possible for some people to ''załatwić'' something on behalf of others if they are in a position of power. Very often parents try to ''załatwić'' a first job for their adult children (e.g. just after graduation), exploiting their social networks and position on the labour market. This is still a very common practice in Poland<ref>Tomaszkewicz B. 2012. 'Problem Nepotyzmu – Polska radzi z nim sobie gorzej niż inne kraje', Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, 13 August, http://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/artykuly/639545,problem_nepotyzmu_polska_radzi_sobie_z_nim_gorzej_niz_inne_kraje.html</ref>. | ||
''Załatwianie'', like Russian blat, is therefore a kind of a social system based on certain relationships among people<ref>Ledeneva A. 1998. Russia's economy of favours: blat, networking, and informal exchange. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press</ref>. A person with a wide social network and large number of friends has greater scope to ''załatwić'' than someone with a smaller number of connections. Consequently, more people want to establish relations with such a person as they are perceived as a valuable friend who can ''załatwić'' a lot <ref>Wedel J. 2001. 'Corruption and Organised Crime in Post-Communist States: New Ways of Manifesting New Patters', Trends in Organized Crime, 7(1): 3-61.</ref>. However, unlike blat, ''załatwianie'' does not rely solely on the social networks and position within a group of people, but also on an individual’s tacit knowledge of how to get things done: how to approach certain institutions and/or people, and generally how to act in different situations in order to ''załatwić'' things. Sometimes a person does not even need a specific social network to achieve his/her goals – less than knowing people, it is important to be aware where and how things can be done, and then undertake specific actions (e.g. bribery, blackmailing) in order to obtain goods <ref>Wedel J. 1986. Private Poland. New York: Facts on File Inc.</ref>. | ''Załatwianie'', like Russian [[blat]], is therefore a kind of a social system based on certain relationships among people<ref>Ledeneva A. 1998. Russia's economy of favours: blat, networking, and informal exchange. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press</ref>. A person with a wide social network and large number of friends has greater scope to ''załatwić'' than someone with a smaller number of connections. Consequently, more people want to establish relations with such a person as they are perceived as a valuable friend who can ''załatwić'' a lot <ref>Wedel J. 2001. 'Corruption and Organised Crime in Post-Communist States: New Ways of Manifesting New Patters', Trends in Organized Crime, 7(1): 3-61.</ref>. However, unlike blat, ''załatwianie'' does not rely solely on the social networks and position within a group of people, but also on an individual’s tacit knowledge of how to get things done: how to approach certain institutions and/or people, and generally how to act in different situations in order to ''załatwić'' things. Sometimes a person does not even need a specific social network to achieve his/her goals – less than knowing people, it is important to be aware where and how things can be done, and then undertake specific actions (e.g. bribery, blackmailing) in order to obtain goods <ref>Wedel J. 1986. Private Poland. New York: Facts on File Inc.</ref>. | ||
The word ''załatwianie'' became particularly popular in Poland during the Communist period, where there was no easy access to goods and society relied on informal practices and networks<ref>Morris J. and Polese, A. 2013. The Informal Post-Socialist Economy: Embedded Practices and Livehoods. Oxford: Taylor and Francis.</ref>. Some argue that the exclusive nature of ''załatwianie'' comes from the era of Partitions (1795 – 1918), during which Poles could only rely on other Poles as they had been surrounded by ‘enemies’ (the authorities of the invading states) <ref>Pacan J. 2009. 'Tutaj wszystko da się załatwić', Newsweek Polska, 1 December, http://blogi.newsweek.pl/Tekst/polityka-polska/533612,Tutaj-wszystko-sie-da-zalatwic.html></ref>. It was better therefore to ‘get something done’ within the inner circle than to ask for help from external sources such as the Russian authorities, who would most probably be unhelpful or even worsen the situation. | The word ''załatwianie'' became particularly popular in Poland during the Communist period, where there was no easy access to goods and society relied on informal practices and networks<ref>Morris J. and Polese, A. 2013. The Informal Post-Socialist Economy: Embedded Practices and Livehoods. Oxford: Taylor and Francis.</ref>. Some argue that the exclusive nature of ''załatwianie'' comes from the era of Partitions (1795 – 1918), during which Poles could only rely on other Poles as they had been surrounded by ‘enemies’ (the authorities of the invading states) <ref>Pacan J. 2009. 'Tutaj wszystko da się załatwić', Newsweek Polska, 1 December, http://blogi.newsweek.pl/Tekst/polityka-polska/533612,Tutaj-wszystko-sie-da-zalatwic.html></ref>. It was better therefore to ‘get something done’ within the inner circle than to ask for help from external sources such as the Russian authorities, who would most probably be unhelpful or even worsen the situation. | ||
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Through efficiency improvements in the public sector and the ‘westernisation’ of Polish society, methods of ''załatwianie'' are gradually being replaced by formal and legal practices, especially among the younger generation<ref>Kulesza M. 2000. Transformacja Ustroju Administracyjnego Polski. Studia Iuridica XXXVIII/2000</ref>. Nevertheless, this is part of a lengthy process of ideological transition from Soviet practices to Western norms of formality. The phenomena of nepotism, bribery and cronyism still operate within Polish society, and załatwianie is a convenient and widely-used umbrella term for them <ref>Tumiłowicz B. 2009. Czy Polska kolesiostwem i nepotyzmem stoi? Przegląd, 48/2009</ref>. | Through efficiency improvements in the public sector and the ‘westernisation’ of Polish society, methods of ''załatwianie'' are gradually being replaced by formal and legal practices, especially among the younger generation<ref>Kulesza M. 2000. Transformacja Ustroju Administracyjnego Polski. Studia Iuridica XXXVIII/2000</ref>. Nevertheless, this is part of a lengthy process of ideological transition from Soviet practices to Western norms of formality. The phenomena of nepotism, bribery and cronyism still operate within Polish society, and załatwianie is a convenient and widely-used umbrella term for them <ref>Tumiłowicz B. 2009. Czy Polska kolesiostwem i nepotyzmem stoi? Przegląd, 48/2009</ref>. | ||
== | ==References== | ||
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