ABSTRACT
This chapter shows the limitations of focusing on individual ‘rogue’ traders. Following the global financial crisis of 2008, a number of organisations and individuals were blamed and sanctioned for their role in the crisis. The author argues that the industry is only one part of a wider system and that there were a number of underlying social dynamics at play that contributed to the behaviours that ultimately led to the crash of 2008, as well as to ‘rogue’ behaviour subsequently. The chapter examines the interplay of individual, organisational and societal dynamics, exploring collective phantasies, projections and defences towards the financial services industry; how financial services organisations contribute to perpetuating these; and how workers in the industry can be mobilised to engage in rogue behaviour. The chapter concludes with some proposals for intervention at all the levels discussed.
