POLITICAL CULTURE - ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE PARALYSIS IN LIGHT OF HOFSTEDE’S CULTURAL DIMENSIONS
Sr No:
Page No:
48-54
Language:
English
Authors:
Assoc. Prof. Yesim Sirakaya*, Dr. Serhat Erdur
Received:
2025-07-30
Accepted:
2025-08-17
Published Date:
2025-08-21
Abstract:
This study examines the relationships between political culture and organizational
culture within the framework of Hofstede's cultural dimensions. Hofstede's dimensions of power
distance, individualism-collectivism, masculinity-femininity, uncertainty avoidance, long-termshort-term orientation, and tolerance-restriction offer a systematic approach to understanding
both societal and organizational behavior. The research reveals that political culture and
organizational culture are parallel structures. In societies with high power distance, political
systems are generally hierarchical and centralized, while authoritarian and vertical structures are
also observed in organizations. Collectivist societies prioritize group solidarity and loyalty in
both political participation and the workplace, while individualistic societies prioritize individual
achievement and autonomy. Evaluations conducted on the Turkish sample clearly demonstrate
these dynamics. According to Hofstede Insights data, Turkey has high power distance and
uncertainty avoidance scores and exhibits collectivist tendencies. These characteristics are
reflected in the political system as centralized decision-making and a strong state structure, and
in organizations as hierarchical structures, adherence to rules, and group cohesion. The study
demonstrates that political and organizational culture are mutually reinforcing in Turkey. The
findings offer important implications for practice in both political and organizational spheres.
Reducing power distance, encouraging participatory leadership models, fostering a culture open
to innovation and entrepreneurship, and balancing collectivist and individualist values can
enhance democratic governance and organizational effectiveness. This study contributes to the
literature by systematically linking Hofstede's cultural dimensions to political and organizational
behavior, and cross-cultural studies offer important guidance for policymakers and managers.
Keywords:
Hofstede, cultural dimensions, political culture, organizational culture, Turkey, power distance, collectivism, uncertainty avoidance.