Reflecting on and Advancing the Resource Dependence Perspective (WITHDRAWN)

Despite its popularity, the Resource Dependence Perspective (RDP) is not exactly a success story. This has been acknowledged even by its founders, who state that RDP research does not live up to its potential – generally and specifically with respect to the situational suitability of the RDP’s response strategies. This paper provides a critical evaluation of the original RDP statement, which includes a delineation of central assumptions and concepts as well as their relation to the Social Exchange Theory (SET), and subsequent RDP research. This paper identifies omissions on both sides and reflects on their causes, thus paving the way for an unambiguous use of the RDP. Further, I suggest a concrete way forward to advance the RDP according to its aspirations - specifically, by means of refocusing it on the SET, which provides a missing link between response strategies and power constellations.