Williams, C.C. and Onoshchenko, O. (2015) An evaluation of the persistence of blat in post-Soviet societies: A case Study of Ukraine's health services sector. Studies of Transition States and Societies, 7 (2). pp. 46-63. ISSN 1736-874X
Abstract
The use of personal connections to gain preferential access to goods and services and to circumvent formal procedures exists in all countries to varying degrees. In this paper, the aim is to critically evaluate the continuing widespread positive depiction of this practice as a form of friendly help. Studyingthe health services sector in the city of Mykolayiv in Ukraine, this practice known as blat, which was widely used in Soviet societies to gain access to goods and services, is shown to persist in post-Soviet market societies, albeit transformed. Those possessing connections and access to health services now increasingly view such access-assets as commodities to sell rather than provide them as non-monetised friendly favours. The outcome is a call for Wat to be re-theorised more negatively as an exemplar of the darker side of social capital, and for a policy shift from doing nothing to seeking its eradication.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Management School (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 04 Feb 2016 16:53 |
Last Modified: | 04 Feb 2016 16:53 |
Published Version: | http://publications.tlu.ee/index.php/stss/article/... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Tallinn University |
Refereed: | Yes |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:93783 |