A Critical Discourse Analysis to Explain the Failure of BoP Strategies
Item
Title
A Critical Discourse Analysis to Explain the Failure of BoP Strategies
Loyola Faculty Contributor
Nancy E. Landrum
Link
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to highlight differences between business and non-business literature regarding base of the pyramid (BoP) and subsistence contexts and reveal discourse’s powerful role in influencing goals, solutions and outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses critical discourse analysis to review a convenience sample of business versus non-business literature on the BoP and subsistence contexts.
Findings
Discourse used in business literature on the BoP is oriented toward hegemonic Western capitalist approaches that result in the depletion of resources, resource inequalities, poverty and increased consumption, dependence and environmental degradation and, therefore, cannot alleviate poverty.
Research limitations/implications
There are two primary limitations: the study relied on a convenience sample that was not random and comparatively, the business BoP literature is not as mature as the non-business subsistence literature and, therefore, the BoP field of study is not yet fully developed.
Practical implications
Discourse has a powerful role in revealing assumptions and guiding actions. A change in BoP discourse toward a strength-based approach can serve as a model of sustainability and can help powerful entities enact structural and systemic change.
Originality/value
This paper reveals the role of discourse in business BoP literature and how it perpetuates and even exacerbates the problems they were designed to alleviate: depletion of resources, resource inequalities, poverty and increased consumption, dependence and environmental degradation. The paper challenges researchers, economists and powerful guiding entities to reorient their discourse of the BoP to be more aligned with those of non-business researchers of subsistence markets.
This paper aims to highlight differences between business and non-business literature regarding base of the pyramid (BoP) and subsistence contexts and reveal discourse’s powerful role in influencing goals, solutions and outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses critical discourse analysis to review a convenience sample of business versus non-business literature on the BoP and subsistence contexts.
Findings
Discourse used in business literature on the BoP is oriented toward hegemonic Western capitalist approaches that result in the depletion of resources, resource inequalities, poverty and increased consumption, dependence and environmental degradation and, therefore, cannot alleviate poverty.
Research limitations/implications
There are two primary limitations: the study relied on a convenience sample that was not random and comparatively, the business BoP literature is not as mature as the non-business subsistence literature and, therefore, the BoP field of study is not yet fully developed.
Practical implications
Discourse has a powerful role in revealing assumptions and guiding actions. A change in BoP discourse toward a strength-based approach can serve as a model of sustainability and can help powerful entities enact structural and systemic change.
Originality/value
This paper reveals the role of discourse in business BoP literature and how it perpetuates and even exacerbates the problems they were designed to alleviate: depletion of resources, resource inequalities, poverty and increased consumption, dependence and environmental degradation. The paper challenges researchers, economists and powerful guiding entities to reorient their discourse of the BoP to be more aligned with those of non-business researchers of subsistence markets.
Date
16-Mar-20
Publication Title
Critical Perspectives on International Business
Identifier
10.1108/cpoib-08-2018-0066
Bibliographic Citation
Landrum, N. (2020). A critical discourse analysis to explain the failure of BoP strategies. Critical Perspectives on International Business. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/cpoib-08-2018-0066