The Power of Kith and Kin Cover Image

The Power of Kith and Kin
The Power of Kith and Kin

Empirical Evidence of Kin among Public Administrators, Judges and Notaries in the Czech Republic

Author(s): Jiří J. Šebek
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Masarykova univerzita nakladatelství
Keywords: nepotism; occupational following; in-group favouritism; Czech Republic; John Rawls; justice; isonymy

Summary/Abstract: There is marginal empirical evidence of kin among officials of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and strong evidence among Czech judges and notaries. The members of the Czech Bar Association serve as a control group for occupational following among lawyers - that is lawyers who have followed in their parents’ careers. The Czech population is a reference group for naturally occurring consanguinity. These findings complement international research in occupational following, which is common in many professions, including civil service and the public administration of law. Occupational following in the bureaucratic offices of a liberal democracy is considered discriminatory, as it provides an unfair advantage and opportunities.

  • Issue Year: XXIII/2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 23-43
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: English