Exploring one of the darker sides of expatriation: Chinese expatriates’ experiences with petty corruption in Tanzania

Abstract

Drawing on institutional isomorphism and Bourdieu’s concept of capital, this ethnographic study provides a comprehensive examination of how institutional pressures interact with individual capital (linguistic, cultural and social) to shape expatriates’ behaviours in dealing with local petty corruption practices. We find that co- ercive isomorphism is often intensified by a lack of local linguistic capital, mimetic isomorphism is reinforced by uncertainty in a foreign environment, and normative isomorphism is shaped by norms and expectations origi- nating from both the host and home countries, rather than being solely rooted in the local environment. Our findings highlight the critical role of individual capital as a moderator of institutional responses. By bridging macro-level neo-institutional theory and micro-level practices, this study deepens our understanding of how expatriates’ behaviour is shaped by both broader institutional environments and the personal resources they bring to their host country