ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0003-4444-7712

Graduation Semester and Year

Spring 2025

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration

Department

Business Administration

First Advisor

Owen Parker

Second Advisor

Pyayt Oo

Third Advisor

Varkey Titus Jr.

Abstract

The purpose of my dissertation is to contribute to the growing discussion on the intersection of totalitarianism and business practices, highlighting the need for leaders to navigate the seismic shifts in global commerce and make ethical decisions in an increasingly complex landscape. Specifically, it examines the decline of the Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) and Liberal International Order (LIO) as well as the rise of totalitarianism across the globe, and the challenges these trends pose for businesses and managers. The first study constructs a comprehensive framework delineating the diverse responses of businesses to authoritarian regimes, ranging from resistance to accommodation. This framework, drawn from multidisciplinary literature, establishes a foundational understanding for further exploration into the underlying determinants of these responses. Building upon this framework, the second study investigates individual-level factors shaping compliance or resistance within firms confronting authoritarian pressures. Specifically, it examines the impact of leadership styles and among men and women film directors contending with censorship mandates enforced by the Chinese Communist Party. This abstract underscores the imperative for management scholars to confront the formidable challenge posed by authoritarianism to contemporary business practices and human rights. By synthesizing insights from diverse disciplines and empirical inquiries, it lays a foundation for future research aimed at devising effective strategies for navigating authoritarian environments while upholding ethical principles and human rights standards.

Keywords

Totalitarianism, Authoritarianism, Dictators, Leadership styles, Emerging markets, Multinational enterprise, Censorship, Role Congruity Theory

Disciplines

Business and Corporate Communications | Comparative Politics | Leadership | Strategic Management Policy

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Comments

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my dissertation chair, Owen Parker, and committee members, Pyayt Oo and Varkey Titus Jr., for their unwavering support throughout this journey. Special thanks to Owen Parker, whose dedication and mentorship have gone far beyond any expectations.

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