1
Organizational Politics at The Walt Disney Company
Organizational politics are inevitable in any corporate environment and often influence
decision-making, leadership behaviour, and company strategy. While politics are typically
associated with government, scholars such as Aransyah and Hetami (2021) emphasize that
politics also exist within organizations as individuals and groups seek to acquire and use power
for personal or departmental advantage. The Walt Disney Company (Disney), one of the world's
largest entertainment corporations, has been at the centre of recent political and social debates,
particularly due to its public involvement in sociopolitical issues. This paper examines Disney's
internal and external political behaviour by analyzing the individual and organizational factors
that drive it, identifying specific types of political conduct exhibited by its leaders, and
discussing the ethical and future implications of organizational politics in corporate activism.
Individual and Organizational Factors Causing Political Behavior
Organizational politics often emerge from both individual motives and systemic factors
within the company's structure and culture. According to Aransyah and Hetami (2021),
indicators of internal politics include unclear objectives, competition for resources, decision-
making ambiguity, salary and promotion concerns, power struggles, and job dissatisfaction.
These dynamics are amplified at the senior-leadership level, where personal ambition and public
scrutiny intersect. At Disney, such political behaviour became visible when company executives
took a public stance against Florida's "Parental Rights in Education Act," often referred to as the
"Don't Say Gay" bill. The controversy revealed competing priorities within the organization—
protecting the brand's inclusive reputation, maintaining employee trust, and mitigating political
risk—all of which triggered intense internal and external political manoeuvring.
, 2
At the individual level, several factors explain the emergence of political behaviour
among Disney's top leaders. Senior executives often possess high personal stakes in corporate
decisions that shape their status, influence, and compensation. According to Lee et al. (2021),
when leaders perceive a workplace as politically charged, their ethical leadership behaviours
may decline, replaced by impression management and self-protective actions. At Disney, leaders
such as former CEO Bob Chapek and returning CEO Bob Iger faced immense pressure to
balance shareholder expectations with public opinion. Individual self-preservation and image
management thus became central motivators of political behaviour. For example, Chapek
initially avoided commenting on the Florida bill but later reversed his stance after employee
backlash, a move many saw as politically motivated rather than value-driven. This behaviour
reflects how leaders' perceptions of internal and external political risk influence their decisions
and communication.
At the organizational level, Disney's political behaviour can be traced to structural and
cultural conditions. The company's diverse portfolio, global audience, and complex governance
system create ambiguous goals that are difficult to reconcile. Jovanović (2018) notes that
ambiguous objectives, unclear hierarchies, and competition for limited resources intensify
organizational politics. Within Disney, divisions such as Pixar, ESPN, and the Parks segment
each have distinct priorities and subcultures, creating internal competition for attention and
budget allocation. These divisions compete not only for funding but also for ideological
representation in the company's public image. Moreover, Disney's strong emphasis on corporate
social responsibility and inclusion initiatives has led to competing interpretations of its mission:
should Disney act primarily as an entertainment company or as a moral voice on social justice?
Organizational Politics at The Walt Disney Company
Organizational politics are inevitable in any corporate environment and often influence
decision-making, leadership behaviour, and company strategy. While politics are typically
associated with government, scholars such as Aransyah and Hetami (2021) emphasize that
politics also exist within organizations as individuals and groups seek to acquire and use power
for personal or departmental advantage. The Walt Disney Company (Disney), one of the world's
largest entertainment corporations, has been at the centre of recent political and social debates,
particularly due to its public involvement in sociopolitical issues. This paper examines Disney's
internal and external political behaviour by analyzing the individual and organizational factors
that drive it, identifying specific types of political conduct exhibited by its leaders, and
discussing the ethical and future implications of organizational politics in corporate activism.
Individual and Organizational Factors Causing Political Behavior
Organizational politics often emerge from both individual motives and systemic factors
within the company's structure and culture. According to Aransyah and Hetami (2021),
indicators of internal politics include unclear objectives, competition for resources, decision-
making ambiguity, salary and promotion concerns, power struggles, and job dissatisfaction.
These dynamics are amplified at the senior-leadership level, where personal ambition and public
scrutiny intersect. At Disney, such political behaviour became visible when company executives
took a public stance against Florida's "Parental Rights in Education Act," often referred to as the
"Don't Say Gay" bill. The controversy revealed competing priorities within the organization—
protecting the brand's inclusive reputation, maintaining employee trust, and mitigating political
risk—all of which triggered intense internal and external political manoeuvring.
, 2
At the individual level, several factors explain the emergence of political behaviour
among Disney's top leaders. Senior executives often possess high personal stakes in corporate
decisions that shape their status, influence, and compensation. According to Lee et al. (2021),
when leaders perceive a workplace as politically charged, their ethical leadership behaviours
may decline, replaced by impression management and self-protective actions. At Disney, leaders
such as former CEO Bob Chapek and returning CEO Bob Iger faced immense pressure to
balance shareholder expectations with public opinion. Individual self-preservation and image
management thus became central motivators of political behaviour. For example, Chapek
initially avoided commenting on the Florida bill but later reversed his stance after employee
backlash, a move many saw as politically motivated rather than value-driven. This behaviour
reflects how leaders' perceptions of internal and external political risk influence their decisions
and communication.
At the organizational level, Disney's political behaviour can be traced to structural and
cultural conditions. The company's diverse portfolio, global audience, and complex governance
system create ambiguous goals that are difficult to reconcile. Jovanović (2018) notes that
ambiguous objectives, unclear hierarchies, and competition for limited resources intensify
organizational politics. Within Disney, divisions such as Pixar, ESPN, and the Parks segment
each have distinct priorities and subcultures, creating internal competition for attention and
budget allocation. These divisions compete not only for funding but also for ideological
representation in the company's public image. Moreover, Disney's strong emphasis on corporate
social responsibility and inclusion initiatives has led to competing interpretations of its mission:
should Disney act primarily as an entertainment company or as a moral voice on social justice?
