The Resilience Trap: How Celebrating Powerlessness Undermines Progress in South Asia

This article critically examines the cultural phenomenon in South Asia where suffering and powerlessness are often romanticized, leading to a 'resilience trap.' For internal audit and assurance professionals, this perspective is crucial for understanding organizational culture, risk appetite, and the potential for systemic issues to be overlooked or even celebrated under the guise of 'resilience' rather than being addressed proactively. It highlights how a culture that glorifies endurance over efficiency can mask underlying governance failures and hinder genuine improvement.