Exploring one of the darker sides of expatriation: Chinese expatriates' experiences with petty corruption in Tanzania

Drawing on institutional isomorphism and Bourdieu’s concept of capital, this ethnographic study provides a comprehensive examination of how institutional pressures interact with individual capital (linguistic, cultural and social) to shape expatriates’ behaviours in dealing with local petty corruption practices. We find that coercive isomorphism is often intensified by a lack of local linguistic capital, mimetic isomorphism is reinforced by uncertainty in a foreign environment, and normative isomorphism is shaped by norms and expectations originating from both the host and home countries, rather than being solely rooted in the local environment. Our findings highlight the critical role of individual capital as a moderator of institutional responses. By bridging macro-level neo-institutional theory and micro-level practices, this study deepens our understanding of how expatriates’ behaviour is shaped by both broader institutional environments and the personal resources they bring to their host country. • Explores petty corruption through institutional isomorphism and Bourdieu's capital. • Reveals how expatriates’ capital shapes compliance and resistance to corruption • Shows coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures influencing expatriate behaviour. • Identifies linguistic, cultural capital and social capital as tools to navigate corrupt encounters. • Highlights transnational roots of normative isomorphism in global corruption contexts.