Abstract:

Despite the normative framing of academia as a meritocratic space, recognition in the form of awards given by academic societies remains unevenly distributed. This paper examines the systemic under-representation of Global South scholars among award recipients—an issue that speaks to deeper inequalities in the organization of knowledge production. Drawing on a sequential mixed-methods design, we integrate findings from two studies. Study 1 employs Relative Rate Index (RRI) analysis of award data from the major divisions of the Academy of Management, revealing a consistent and significant under-representation of Global South scholars, even when they are affiliated with prestigious institutions. Study 2 juxtaposes this quantitative evidence against the perspectives of award gatekeepers from leading international conferences. The findings highlight how Global North-centric norms of excellence, institutional biases, and committee homogeneity intersect with structural disadvantages in the Global South—such as limited access to resources, weaker doctoral training, and reduced networking capital—to reproduce representational inequities. We argue that this under-representation is not the result of deliberate exclusion, but rather stems from systemic oversight, reinforced by persistent status bias and sustained through the normative appeal of meritocratic ideals.

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Primary Track: Critical Management Studies

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Prof Peter McNamara

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