Mundane objects and the banality of evil: the sociomateriality of a death camp

Stewart R. Clegg, Miguel Pina e Cunha, Arménio Rego, Joana Dias

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this article, we study one organization that played a pivotal role in the Cambodian genocide of the 1970s: the S-21 extermination center. We analyze, in particular, how processes of sociomateriality in the death camp contributed to create order and normalcy in an extreme and abnormal organization. A more nuanced view of agency ensues from this analysis, one that helps the understanding of how the creation of material spaces critically influences organizing, including the organizing of genocide.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)325-340
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Management Inquiry
Volume22
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Evil organization studies
  • Genocide
  • Objects
  • Organization
  • Sociomateriality

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