Viveza criolla

Viveza criolla is a Spanish language phrase literally meaning "creoles' cleverness" and may be translated as "creoles' cunning", describing a way of life in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay,[1] Colombia and Venezuela, among other Latin American countries. It is a philosophy of progress along the line of least resistance and ignoring rules, a lack of sense of responsibility and consideration for others, and it extends to all social groups and throughout the whole country, although it predominates in Buenos Aires.[2] Viveza criolla has been called "the principal cause of a moral, cultural, economic, social and political crisis".[2] It is a similar concept to jeitinho brasileiro in Brazil.

Characteristics

Viveza criolla includes:

• Lack of respect for others and indifference to the common good in a framework of individual interests.[2]
• Political corruption, which extends in all institutions, in the form of perks, direct appropriation of public funds, favoritism, nepotism, misallocation of state resources, etc.[2]
• Extreme individualism, with mistrust of others. This includes having little ability to partner and cooperate in community goals.[2] (Interpersonal trust is a key component of social capital, which is crucial for economic development and proper functioning of democratic institutions.)[2]
• Anomie or weakening of the common morality, and social deviance as behavior that departs from generally accepted standards in society.[2]
• The habit of blaming problems on others, thereby encouraging paranoia and granting a permit to self-indulgence.
• The tendency to take advantage of or cheat others in favor of one's own self-interests, partially for reasons of self-protection and mistrust, but also to assert one's superiority and "quick-wittedness" over another. [2]

Phrases

• Hecha la ley, hecha la trampa. -- "Made the law, made the loophole."
• Total, si no robo yo, robará otro. -- "In the end, if I do not steal, someone else will."
• El vivo vive del zonzo y el zonzo de su trabajo -- "The cunning lives off the sucker, and the sucker lives off his job"

See also

• List of English words of Spanish origin
• Gérson's law
• Malandragem
• Yankee ingenuity

References

1. "Diccionario del Español del Uruguay". Academia Nacional de Letras. 2011. Missing or empty |url= (help)
2. ""Viveza Criolla" en Argentina". latinamericanstudies.org. Retrieved 18 Feb 2012.