Beyond the mainstream: foucault, power and organization theory

While mainstream organization theory has contributed to making organizations a productive part of society, they have simultaneously contributed to the creation of a “dark side” of organizational existence that stifles the individual, frustrates the attainment of desired social ends and distorts many...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of organization theory and behavior Vol. 8; no. 4; pp. 495 - 520
Main Author Abel, Charles F
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Boca Raton Emerald Publishing Limited 01.03.2005
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Subjects
Consciousness
Critical theory
Foucault, Michel
Ideology
Organization theory
Organizational behavior
Organizational structure
Philosophers
Power
Rationality
Society
Studies
Traditions
Universalism
Values
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Summary:While mainstream organization theory has contributed to making organizations a productive part of society, they have simultaneously contributed to the creation of a “dark side” of organizational existence that stifles the individual, frustrates the attainment of desired social ends and distorts many core values of democratic societies. Mainstream theory recognizes this “dark side,” but has been unsuccessful at suggesting how it might be ameliorated or avoided. The writings of Foucault, however, reveal not only how the “dark side” arises but also how it might be avoided so that organizations may develop and pursue interests in common with both society and the individual.
ISSN:1093-4537
1532-4273
DOI:10.1108/IJOTB-08-04-2005-B003