Rethinking Blockchain and Power Dynamics in Supply Chains: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Despite a generally positive discourse on blockchain technology in academic literature, firms have struggled to implement it in their supply chains. In this article, we are deconstructing the typically positive perception of blockchain in the literature through a provocative style of theorizing and critical discourse analysis. Based on our analysis of the discourse, we challenge the traditional view of power, which posits that it is concentrated in dominant actors and exercised over others. Instead, we consider power from a performative perspective and show how blockchain functions as a non-human actor that connects supply chain participants, translates their interactions, and fosters the emergence of new socio-technical networks. This perspective gives managers practical tools to move beyond firm-centered control, address power imbalances, and create more equitable, value-generating supply chains.