Research

                     Dr. Yousif Abdelrahim | Wasta Theory, Informal Governance, Sustainable Education, Education Leadership, & Tribalism Research:

• Wasta & Social Networks

• Informal governance

• Tribalism & Tribal Behaviour

• Social, Intimate, & institutional trust

• Cross-cultural psychology

• Organizational behavior

• Higher education - Leadership & Well-being

• Emerging market institutions

• Corruption & Unethical Behavior

Original Contributions & Publications                                                                                                            

Research Overview                                                                                               

Dr. Yousif Abdelrahim’s research advances original theoretical and empirical contributions at the intersection of organisational behaviour, cultural cognition, and institutional governance. His work focuses on how informal socio-cultural systems function as parallel structures of governance, shaping decision-making, corruption, and institutional outcomes across emerging markets.

His research is characterised by:

• Development of novel theoretical frameworks

• Construction of measurable cultural constructs

• Integration of interdisciplinary perspectives

• Strong emphasis on independent (single-author) scholarship                                                               

Academic Profiles

• Google Scholar:  https://scholar.google.com/citationsuser=9PHgsNAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

• Orcid: https: //orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-3749-8880

• Scopus:  https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57226182330

• Web of Science:  https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/JNS-8991-2023

• SciProfile: https://sciprofiles.com/profile/yousifabdelrahim

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousif-abdelrahim-b3997621a/

• Loop Profile: https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/1849278/overview

Signature Contribution

Wasta as Informal Governance: A Theoretical Framework

Dr. Abdelrahim’s primary contribution is the development of a novel theoretical framework positioning Wasta as a structured system of informal governance.

This work moves beyond conventional interpretations of Wasta as merely favouritism or corruption and instead conceptualises it as a multidimensional governance system with identifiable components and measurable effects.

Core Contribution

The framework introduces a componential and institutional theory of Wasta, identifying key elements such as:

• Relational networks

• Social obligations

• Reciprocity norms

• Power asymmetries

It explains how these components interact with formal institutions across:

• Micro level (individual decision-making)

• Meso level (organisational practices)

• Macro level (institutional environments)

What This Research Changes

• Reframes Wasta from a cultural anomaly → governance system

• Bridges culture and institutional theory

• Enables empirical measurement and cross-country comparison

• Provides a unified framework applicable to similar systems globally

Why It Matters

This work has significant implications for:

• Anti-corruption strategies (explain the limits of purely legal approaches)

• Policy design in emerging markets

• Organisational governance and performance

• Institutional reform and development

Key Insight

Informal systems like Wasta persist not as deviations, but as adaptive responses to gaps in formal governance.

Additional Theoretical Contributions

• Development of a tribalism construct as a measurable cultural dimension

• Creation and validation of tribalism and Wasta-related scales

• Integration of cultural systems into organisational and institutional theory

• Expansion of cultural analysis beyond frameworks associated with Geert Hofstede

Selected Publications

(Full list available via academic profiles: Google Scholar, Scopus, Orcid, etc.)

Theory & Core Research

• Wasta as Informal Governance: A Componential and Institutional Theory

• Tribalism: Scale Construction and Validation

• Why Does Tribalism Cause Corruption?

Empirical & Cross-National Studies

• Influence of oppression on corruption across countries

• Cultural values and globalisation

• Risk-taking and cultural dimensions

Applied & Interdisciplinary Research

• Student well-being and sustainable development

• COVID-19 and behavioural outcomes in education

• Organisational practices and digital transformation

Reference Book

• Understanding Tribes and Tribalism: The Overlooked Cultural Uniqueness, Measurement, and Corruption of Tribalism

Research Impact

Policy Impact

Provides actionable insights for policymakers by demonstrating that effective anti-corruption strategies must align formal regulations with underlying socio-cultural systems, rather than relying solely on enforcement.

Organisational Impact

Enables organisations to identify and manage informal practices (e.g., Wasta) that affect:

• Fairness and meritocracy

• Innovation and creativity

• Employee engagement and performance

• Decision-making processes

Academic Impact

Contributes to interdisciplinary scholarship by positioning Wasta as a socio-cultural governance system,

expanding research across:

• Organisational behaviour

• Sociology and informal institutions

• Anthropology and cultural systems

• Political science and governance

• Institutional economics

• Business ethics and anti-corruption studies

Interdisciplinary Scope

This research operates across multiple fields, demonstrating broad academic relevance:

• Organisational Behaviour & Management

• Sociology (social networks & informal institutions)

• Anthropology (cultural systems & tribalism)

• Political Science & Governance

• Economics (institutional & behavioural)

• Ethics & Anti-Corruption Studies

• Public Policy & Development Studies