The role of non-corporeal Actant theory in historical research A case study of Henry Wallace and the new deal

摘要

Purpose - This paper aims to study the role of non-corporeal Actant theory in historical research through a case study of the trajectory of the New Deal as one of the foremost institutions in the USA since its inception in the early 1930s. Design/methodology/approach - The authors follow the trajectory of the New Deal through a focus on Vice President Henry A. Wallace. Drawing on ANTi-History, the authors view history as a powerful discourse for organizing understandings of the past and non-corporeal Actants as a key influence on making sense of (past) events. Findings - The authors conclude that non-corporeal Actants influence the shaping of management and organization studies that serve paradoxically to obfuscate history and its relationship to the past. Research limitations/implications - The authors drew on a series of published studies of Henry Wallace and archival material in the Roosevelt Library, but the study would benefit from an in-depth analysis of the Wallace archives. Practical implications - The authors reveal the influences of non-corporeal Actants as a method for dealing with the past The authors do this through the use of ANTi-History as a method of historical analysis. Social implications - The past is an important source of understanding of the present and future; this innovative approach increases the potential to understand. Originality/value - Decisions are often black boxes. Non-Corporeal Actants are a new tool with which to see the underlying inputs of choice.