Environmental Responsibility and Institutional Pressures: An Analysis of Lebanese Private Universities through Neo-Institutional Theory[Responsabilité Environnementale et Pressions Institutionnelles : Une Analyse des Universités Privées Libanaises à travers la Théorie Néo-Institutionnelle]

This study explores the institutional pressures faced by Lebanese private universities, using neo-institutional theory as an analytical framework, within a context marked by Lebanon's deep economic and political crisis. Through in-depth interviews with university professors and administrators, we identify and analyze the forms of isomorphism—coercive, mimetic, and normative—that influence the functioning of these institutions. The analysis reveals that coercive isomorphism, primarily driven by government regulations and accreditation requirements, is the most dominant form of pressure. However, elements of mimetic isomorphism are also observed, where universities adopt practices similar to those of institutions perceived as more prestigious, in response to the environmental uncertainty exacerbated by the crisis. Normative isomorphism, though less prominent, emerges through the shared professional standards of faculty and administrative staff. These findings offer a new perspective on institutional dynamics within Lebanese private universities, highlighting the additional challenges they face in a national environment in crisis.