A dramaturgical analysis of the expatriate spouse role : The case of the Swiss diplomatic and consular service

Résumé 0

In this article, we focus on the social role played by expatriates’ spouses during international assignments. Many researchers emphasize the importance of the spouse for the success or failure of international assignments. Some experts even consider the behavior of the spouse as the most important factor for the success of expatriation. Today it is increasingly difficult for multinational companies to ignore the importance of spouses and to deny the expectations that organizational actors have of them in terms of social and professional roles. Following Goffman’s “dramaturgical” role analysis, we study these role expectations using an exemplary case: the spouses of diplomatic and consular employees of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Forty spouses, men and women, were interviewed during our investigation. We present in a structured and detailed manner the various repertoires and sub-repertoires that are mobilized to perform the role of expatriate spouse.