There's nothing special about Guanxi, it literally means "networking" of well-connected people. Unless I am missing something?
This is not unique to China, of course, but it does mean business, politics and even seemingly mundane things like healthcare and schools operate quite differently to what you might expect.
In my own experience, where I went to kindergarten was an outcome of who my grandma knew. Similarly, when I was sick and needed to see a doctor, I had to know someone who knew someone...
Yes - it's similar in the west. But to say they're the same would be like saying 100M dash and marathon is the same sport.
I'd argue the reason you don't see much Guanxi in the America is because the best healthcare or school are already run by the private sector.