- Nepotism is a form of favoritism which is granted to relatives in various fields, including business, politics, entertainment, sports, religion and other activities.
- The term originated with the assignment of nephews to important positions by Catholic popes and bishops.
- Nepotism has been criticized since the ancient times by several philosophers, including Aristotle, Valluvar, and Confucius.
- For instance, the ancient Indian philosopher Valluvar condemned nepotism as both evil and unwise.