Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 September 2020
This chapter describes the concept of wasta as it is understood in Syria. It begins by showing that self-perceived wasta is a reliable indicator of whether people objectively have wasta. This is because both self-perceived and objective wasta exist due to a combination of money and connections. It then describes how wasta's meaning has changed over time. After that, it discusses similar concepts that exist in other context, such as guanxi in China. Finally, it discusses how changes in wasta reflect the wartime political order.
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