O nepotyzmie, kumoterstwie i kolesiostwie słów kilka
A few remarks on nepotism, favouritism and back-scratching

Summary/Abstract: One of the most important oppositions in Polish is that between “us” and “them”. The “them” pole is usually evaluated negatively just because it is different: in this way a group creates its distinctness, self-identity and internal bond. Another reason might also be the conviction that the behaviour and actions of the other group are morally wrong because they are based on mutual support aimed at self interest and illegal profit. Disapproval can be expressed by the names of the group such as klan ‘clan’, klika ‘clique’, koteria ‘coterie’, sitwa ‘cabal’, mafia ‘mafia’, nomenklatura ‘the authorities and their favourites’, układ ‘scheme’ and their derivatives, e.g. koteryjne (interesy) ‘interests of the coterie’, klanowa (solidarność) ‘clan solidarity’, as well as abstract concepts such as nepotyzm ‘nepotism’, kolesiostwo ‘favouritism’ or kumoterstwo ‘back-scratching’.

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