‘Capital Breeds Capital’: Bourdieu and the Cross-National Importation of Organizational Models

Ruomei Yang, Charles Harvey, Frank Mueller, Mairi Maclean

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter draws upon Bourdieu’s concept of capital to examine the importation of organisational models and the adaptive processes that we observed in respective institutional contexts. Through the lens of a longitudinal case study, we demonstrate how a coalition of elite actors mobilised capital to successfully import the US community foundation model into the North East of England. By converting different forms of capital within the philanthropic field, local power brokers enabled the local adaptation of models and associated practices aligned with particular community needs and circumstances. Our main contribution to this book is to demonstrate the need for elite actors to convert capital, which can facilitate the importation of organisational models. We show how local elite actors drawn from different professional and business fields build coalitions during the process of importation to engage in the conversion of different types of capitals.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPierre Bourdieu in Studies of Organization and Management
Subtitle of host publicationSocietal Change and Transforming Fields
EditorsSarah Robinson, Jette Ernst, Kristian Larsen, Ole Jacob Thomassen
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter6
Edition1st
ISBN (Electronic)9781003022510
ISBN (Print)9780367893354
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Sep 2021
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameRoutledge Studies in Management, Organizations and Society
PublisherRoutledge

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