Cynicism in organizations and its relationship to perceived organizational justice: evidence from the higher education sector in Syria:

Homam Khwanda; Forat Suliman; Habib Samar

doi:10.17323/2312-5942-2025-15-4-40-53

Homam Khwanda Damascus University, Damascus, Syria https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1239-9517
Forat Suliman Syrian Private University, Damascus, Syria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5180-8243
Habib Samar Syrian Private University, Damascus, Syria; Damascus University, Damascus, Syria https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4202-2945

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/2312-5942-2025-15-4-40-53

Keywords: organizational justice, higher education, organizational cynicism, Syria, war

Abstract

Purpose. After fourteen years of war, Syria’s institutional landscape has been severely fragmented and debilitated. Interestingly, the largest and most well-established higher education system has been decimated. The higher education sector faces some substantial cross-cutting challenges where cynicism as a concept has been widely recognized and become a prominent phenomenon. This study aims to identify the level of organizational cynicism and the role of organizational justice as a measure to alleviate cynicism in Syria’s higher education sector. Methodology. Using a questionnaireas a measurement, quantitative data were collected from 324 academic staff across 15 departments from Damascus University. To analyze the data, multiple regression was used. Findings. Organizational justice contributes negatively to cynicism, indicating its role in reducing cynicism; with interactional justice having the strongest effect. Political cynicism homogenizes perceptions across demographic groups. Value of results. The study findings are of significant importance and interest to the university administration, policymakers, and practitioners in trying to adopt a more sustainable and quality education system. The Syrian war raises important education-related questions asserting the role of interactional justice in alleviating cynicism, and thus, the reduction in politics and the development of positive thinking may enhance employee behaviors.

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