Ethical Leadership in Crisis Management and its Impact on Faculty and Staff Trust and Organizational Commitment in Private Universities in Babylon Governorate During Social and Economic Upheaval

ABSTRACT: This research explores the relationship between ethical leadership behaviors during crises and their impact on employee trust and organizational commitment within private universities in Babylon Governorate, Iraq. The study examines how university owners navigate societal and economic upheavals while maintaining ethical standards and fostering institutional resilience. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 120 faculty members and administrative staff across 4 private universities in Babylon Governorate. SPSS software was utilized to analyze the relationships between ethical leadership dimensions, employee trust, and organizational commitment. The findings reveal significant positive correlations between ethical leadership behaviors and both employee trust (r = .78, p < .01) and organizational commitment (r = .82, p < .01). The study identifies transparency, integrity, and empathy as critical leadership behaviors that significantly influence employee perceptions during crises. These results contribute to the growing literature on crisis leadership in educational contexts and provide practical implications for university administrators in regions experiencing instability. The research underscores the importance of ethical leadership as a foundation for institutional resilience and suggests that ethical leadership development should be prioritized within higher education institutions operating in challenging environments.