"You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" philosophy

• Some partial appointments
• Favoritism shown to friends and associates (as by appointing them to positions without regard for their qualifications)
• Appointment of friends to jobs, regardless of qualifications
• Playing favorites
• Getting mates in party at end of day - is money overcoming resistance?
• Buddies-first mentality

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1840, "friendship," from crony + -ism . Meaning "appointment of friends to important positions, regardless of ability" is originally American English, from c.1950.

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. favoritism to friends without regard for their qualifications, especially by appointing them to political positions.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Word definitions in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
noun EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS ▪ For one, they say, she is an outsider in an administration where cronyism has created problems. ▪ High unemployment, non-payment of state wages and pensions and official cronyism and corruption will all be election issues. ▪ ...