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For anyone confused and reading into it too much, it's really just a Chinese word for what is a universal behavior across all human societies. When Elon buys S
by lunaru 10y ago
For anyone confused and reading into it too much, it's really just a Chinese word for what is a universal behavior across all human societies.
When Elon buys SolarCity and the CEO is his cousin, that's guanxi.
When your boss gives a promotion to guy who plays golf with him, that's guanxi.
When you give your buddy a referral to a job because he helped you out with yours, that's guanxi.
It's a necessary social lubricant that also spawns nepotism, favoritism, cronyism, corruption, etc and can be found in every business large enough, especially the government.
And unlike what some posters seem to think, it's not a Chinese-only thing. It's a universal thing that has a Chinese word that nicely refers to it, and thus more recognized in Chinese society.
- dmix 10y agoIt's also a useful defensive mechanism for clandestine organizations, such as mafias (Sicilian), deep states, and intelligence networks. By only allowing 'family' into the organization you can weed out the risks of informants/law enforcement/rats which might compromise your organization. So the person won't be easily bought or turned. The level of trust is much higher than just a typical self-interest business relationship. Something that goes deeper that you can depend on in the face of adversity and risks.