In terms of hiring decisions, some libertarians hold that they should be free to hire whomever they want, regardless of race, sex, or merit. This includes refusing to hire women or blacks, in some instances, whether meritorious or not. Of course, the objection might be raised that to act with such discrimination in mind constitutes harm. However, liberal philosophy has a built-in retort. The only other option is to slink back into equalism, where, since all candidates are equal, one may as well just pick a name out of a hat.
Nepotism is an unusual instance of liberal individualism.
Taking as a basic premise the right to hire whomever one wishes, nepotism endows the hiring process with community obligations and duties to take care of your own . Thus, although it is based on the premise of free choice, the right choice is the fulfillment of one s family obligations by hiring one s kin. Old boys networks and such institutions are simply variants of this basic principle involving non- kin. I do not think it contentious to assert that nepotism does not always result in the choice of the best candidate for the job. The principle of seniority is central to the hiring philosophy of most unions and labour organizations.