Social Identity and Leadership in the Basque Region: A Study of Leadership Development Programmes

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore how social identity influences the construction of leadership development programmes in the Basque Region. The Basque region is recognised as having a strong social and national identity (Kaufmann and Tödtling, 2000; McNeill, 2000). Historically leadership development has been focused on practising leaders and managers and delivered by universities, consultants and other intermediaries. A recent study reported in the paper has shown managerial dissatisfaction with current provision in the region and has illustrated a need for provision to focus on `skills' for 'leadership'. What is meant by 'skills' and 'leadership' is, however, embedded within the Spanish language and Basque identity (Kasmir, 1996; Whyte, 1999). The paper introduces theories of social identity as they are applied to the study of leadership and it explores how these theories can help explain perceptions of leadership.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abrams, D. and Hogg, M.A. (1988). Comments on the motivational status of self-esteem in social identity and intergroup discrimination. European Journal of Social Psychology; 18: 317-334.

Arbonies, A.L. and Moso, M. , (2002). Basque Country: The knowledge cluster. Journal of Knowledge Management; 6 (4): 347-356.

Ashforth B.E. and Kreiner, G.F. (1999). "How can you do it?": Dirty work and the challenge of constructing a positive identity. Academy of Management Review; 24 (3): 413-434.

Ashforth, B.E. and Mael, F. (1989). Social identity theory and organization. Academy of Management Review; 14 (1): 20-39.

Berger, P. , and Luckmann, T. , (1967), 'The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge', Penguin, London.

Castells, M. (1997) The Power of Identity, Oxford , Balckwell.

Deschamps, J. and Devos, T. (1998). Regarding the relationship between social identity and personal identity. In Worchel, S et al. (eds.), Social Identity: International Perspectives, London ; Sage: 1-23.

Erez, M. and Earley, P.C. (1993). Culture, self-identity and work. New York; Oxford University Press.

Fielding, K.S. and Hogg, M. (1997). Social identity, self-categorization, and leadership: A field study of small interactive groups. Group Dynamics; 1(1):39-51.

10.

Hogg, M.A. (1996). Intragroup processes, group structure and social identity. In W. P. Robinson (Ed.); Social groups and identities: Developing the legacy of Henri Tajfel, Oxford; Butterworth-Heinemann: 65-93.

11.

Hogg, M.A. (2001). A social identity theory of leadership. Personality and Social Psychology Review; 5 (3): 184-200.

12.

Hogg, M.A. and Terry, D.J. (2000). Social identity and self-categorization processes in organizational contexts. Academy of Management Review; 25 (1): 121-140.

13.

Kasmir, S. (1996). The Myth of Mondragón. Cooperatives, Politics and Working-class Life in a Basque Town. New York; State University of New York Press.

14.

Kaufmann, A. and Tödtling, F. (2000). Systems of innovation in traditional industrial regions: The case of Styria in a comparative perspective. Regional Studies; 34 (1): 29-40.

15.

McNeill, D. (2000). McGuggenisation? National identity and globalisation in the Basque country. Political Geography; 19: 473-494.

16.

Rabbie, J.M. and Bekkers, F. (1978). Threatened leadership and inter-group competition . European Journal of Social Psychology; 8: 9-20.

17.

Reicher, S.D. , Spears, R. and Postmes, T. (1995). A social identity model of deindividuation phenomena . European Review of Social Psychology; 6: 161-198.

18.

Rivera Hernáez, Olga et alt. (2001): "Oferta y Demanda de Formación en Gestión para Directivos en el ámbito de la CAPV", Ed. Cluster del Conocimiento

19.

Rivera, O. ; Araujo, A. ; Landeta, J. (2002) "La fonnación de directivos a examen". Capital Humano. Febrero 2002

20.

Rivera. O. y O. del Orden. (2002a) "La influencia del tamano empresarial en la demanda de formación de los directivos: Una aplicación al caso de la CAPV". Estudios Empresariales, n° 109, 2002/2.

21.

Rivera.O. , O. del Orden y J. Landeta. (2002b) "La demanda de formación en gestión para directivos en GuIpúzcoa". Economia Guipuzcoana n° 197, abril.

22.

Rivera.O., O. del Orden y J. Landeta. (2002c) "La oferta de fonnación en gestión para directivos en GuIpúzcoa: sus características y rasgos diferenciadores ". Economía Guipuzcoana n° 199, junio.

23.

Salazar, J.M. (1998). Social identity and national identity. In Worchel, S et al. (eds.), Social Identity: International Perspectives, London; Sage: 1-23.

24.

Tajfel, H. (1972). Social categorization. English Manuscript of 'La categorisation sociale'. In S. Moscovici (Ed.), Introduction à la Psychologie Sociale; 1: 272-302.

25.

Whyte, W.E. (1999). Research note: The Mondragón Cooperatives in 1976 and 1998. Industrial and Labor Relations Review; 52 (3): 478-481.