Entrepreneurship in Crisis: The Determinants of Syrian Refugees’ Entrepreneurial Intentions in Turkey

Dawoud Almohammad, Omar Durrah, Taher Alkhalaf and Mohamad Rashid
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Dawoud Almohammad: Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Mardin Artuklu University, Mardin 47100, Turkey
Omar Durrah: Department of Management, College of Commerce and Business Administration, Dhofar University, Salalah 211, Oman
Taher Alkhalaf: Institute of Business Administration, University of Caen Normandy, 14000 Cane, France
Mohamad Rashid: Department of International Relations, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Mardin Artuklu University, Mardin 47100, Turkey

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-16

Abstract: This study aims to identify the determinants of entrepreneurial intentions among Syrian refugees in Turkey. The research, based on planned behaviour theory, focused on the impact of the refugee context on those intentions and thus on the attitudes and behaviour of entrepreneurs. The study is based on the positivist paradigm, and a quantitative methodology was used to collect data. We preferred the method of convenience sampling and chose 122 entrepreneurial projects at the beginning of 2020. The results show that psychological characteristics have no significant impact. Motivation, conviction, and independence are not sufficient conditions for the choice of an entrepreneurial profession. Self-standards do not affect the entrepreneurial intentions of refugees, as support from family and friends may not be sufficient reason to engage in an entrepreneurial project. However, entrepreneurship emerged among the refugees distinguished by perseverance, efficiency, a spirit of innovation, prior experience, adequate perceptions of barriers, and having the resources needed to implement projects. The refugee context has a negative emotional impact on entrepreneurship for reasons related to conditions of instability, language difficulties, the need for capital to invest, and a lack of entrepreneurial knowledge. The research findings can be used to support the role of humanitarian organisations, UN agencies, and host governments in developing a deeper understanding of entrepreneurial intentions in the refugee context.

Keywords: entrepreneurial intention; refugee context; planned behaviour theory; Syria; Turkey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8602-:d:606801

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