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Africanization in British Multinationals in Ghana and Nigeria, 1945–1970

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  • Decker, Stephanie

Abstract

Multinationals experienced significant legitimacy challenges in less-developed countries between 1945 and 1970. Corporate responses to these challenges cover three distinct periods. Unsuccessful postwar attempts focusing on colonial welfare concerns were followed by pragmatic endeavors intended to repair corporate reputations by Africanizing senior management. By the 1960s, this had become a common approach to legitimization. The challenges of Africanizing ethnocentric multinationals led to organizational changes: internationally diversified multinationals were better able to decentralize subsidiary management, while the late 1960s saw regionally focused multinationals absorbed by more diversified multinationals. Organizational survival was directly linked to legitimacy advantages derived from Africanization.

Suggested Citation

  • Decker, Stephanie, 2018. "Africanization in British Multinationals in Ghana and Nigeria, 1945–1970," Business History Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 92(4), pages 691-718, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:buhirw:v:92:y:2018:i:04:p:691-718_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Aldous, Michael & Conroy, Kieran M., 2021. "Navigating institutional change: An historical perspective of firm responses to pro-market reversals," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(2).
    2. Rammal, Hussain G. & Rose, Elizabeth L. & Ghauri, Pervez N. & Ørberg Jensen, Peter D. & Kipping, Matthias & Petersen, Bent & Scerri, Moira, 2022. "Economic nationalism and internationalization of services: Review and research agenda," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(3).
    3. Ishva Minefee & Marcelo Bucheli, 2021. "MNC responses to international NGO activist campaigns: Evidence from Royal Dutch/Shell in apartheid South Africa," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(5), pages 971-998, July.
    4. Koddenbrock, Kai & Kvangraven, Ingrid Harvold & Sylla, Ndongo Samba, 2020. "Beyond Financialisation: The Need for a Longue Durée Understanding of Finance in Imperialism," OSF Preprints pjt7x, Center for Open Science.
    5. Ponomareva, Yuliya & Uman, Timur & Bodolica, Virginia & Wennberg, Karl, 2022. "Cultural diversity in top management teams: Review and agenda for future research," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(4).

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