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Becoming active in the micro-politics of healthcare re-organisation: The identity work and political activation of doctors, nurses and managers

Waring, Justin, Bishop, Simon, Clarke, Jenelle, Roe, Bridget (2023) Becoming active in the micro-politics of healthcare re-organisation: The identity work and political activation of doctors, nurses and managers. Social Science & Medicine, 333 . Article Number 116145. ISSN 0277-9536. (doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116145) (KAR id:102564)

Abstract

The changing organisation and governance of healthcare work represents a persistent focus of micro-politics. Whilst there is a developed literature describing the micro-political struggles that occur amongst healthcare occupations, there is little understanding about how, when and why actors become politically aware and active. Framed by research on political activation and the concept of identity work, this paper reports on a narrative interview study with 65 people, specifically doctors, nurses and managers, working in the English healthcare system. The narratives show that healthcare workers become increasingly aware of and engaged in micro-political activities through incremental stages based on their accumulating experiences. These stages are opportunities for identity work as actors make sense of their experiences of micro-politics, their occupational affiliations and their evolving sense of self. This identity work is shaped by actors' changing views about the morality of playing politics, the emotional implications of their engagement, and their deepening political commitments. The study shows that political socialisation and activation can vary between occupations and rather than assuming political affiliations are given or acquired the papers highlights the reflective agency of healthcare actors.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116145
Uncontrolled keywords: Organisational change, Political activation, Political socialisation, Healthcare work, Identity work, Micro-politics
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Funders: National Institute for Health Research (https://ror.org/0187kwz08)
SWORD Depositor: JISC Publications Router
Depositing User: JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited: 30 Aug 2023 14:16 UTC
Last Modified: 11 Jan 2024 10:53 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/102564 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Clarke, Jenelle.

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