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The dual role of political connections in enhancing organizational resilience: Buffering and enabling effects

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  • Chen, Man
  • Dong, Maggie Chuoyan
  • Wang, Feng
  • Zhao, Kunyu

Abstract

Organizational resilience enables firms to effectively navigate disruptions and achieve long-term sustainability. While existing research has explored various factors that influence organizational resilience, the role of political connections in fostering resilience remains underexplored. This study investigates how political connections affect resistance capacity and recovery capacity, the two dimensions of organizational resilience. Drawing on panel data from Chinese publicly listed firms between 2008 and 2023, the results indicate that political connections significantly enhance both resistance and recovery capacities, thereby contributing to organizational resilience through buffering and enabling effects, respectively. Furthermore, we found that customer concentration weakens, while competitive intensity strengthens the positive impacts of political connections. This study advances the literature by revealing the resilience-building role of political connections and identifying key boundary conditions. It also offers practical implications for firms seeking to bolster their resilience.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Man & Dong, Maggie Chuoyan & Wang, Feng & Zhao, Kunyu, 2026. "The dual role of political connections in enhancing organizational resilience: Buffering and enabling effects," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:206:y:2026:i:c:s0148296325007696
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115946
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