a Chinese plug

Guanxi is the Chinese word to describe the complex system of obligation, social duty, influence, networking and social cache that is fundamental to Chinese society. It’s hard for Westerners to understand just how subtle and complex this concept is but if you are Spanish you may have an advantage. In Spain there’s a term ‘enchufe’ or ‘enchufado’ meaning ‘plugged in’. It refers to your ability to use personal contacts for preferential treatment or weave through beaurocratic processes. I’m not suggesting that it’s the same thing but the idea that you use your personal, private network first and foremost to achieve your goals rather than official and public channels is very much part of Guanxi too.