A theory of entrepreneurship and peacebuilding

Harry Van Buren and Jay Joseph

Chapter 4 in Handbook of Research on Entrepreneurship and Conflict, 2024, pp 57-71 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Entrepreneurs operating in conflict zones have paradoxically shown the capability of fostering both conflict and peace. Prior scholarship has been unable to explain this divergence, as established financial indicators of entrepreneurial activity fail to capture the essential peacebuilding elements of entrepreneurship. In this chapter, we condense divergent fields of study concerning entrepreneurship in conflict settings and frame their paradoxical impacts on conflict and peace by drawing out two tensions fundamental to entrepreneurial activity: (1) the degree to which they create value and (2) their intergroup inclusivity. Using these tensions, we illustrate how entrepreneurial activity falls on a spectrum ranging from conflict causing to peacebuilding, with four resulting classifications of entrepreneurship in conflict settings: destructive, poverty reduction, social cohesion, and peacebuilding. The chapter offers policy recommendations for local governments and the humanitarian sector seeking to use entrepreneurship in conflict zones to promote peace.

Keywords: Business and Management; Economics and Finance; Politics and Public Policy General Academic Interest (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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