Title: An eclectic analysis of entrepreneurship motivation in conflict and refuge: the Syrian context

Authors: Lubna Rashid

Addresses: Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany

Abstract: This article applies the eclectic theory of entrepreneurship to the study of entrepreneurship motivation under the extreme contexts of violent conflict and subsequent displacement, where the decision to pursue entrepreneurship is modelled as an interplay of the opportunities and external resources in the entrepreneur's environment as well as individual characteristics. The study also adapts Wagner and Sternberg's view of entrepreneurial decision-making in additional to the self-determination theory to discuss the study implications. Findings suggest that conflict-affected entrepreneurs are intrinsically motivated to start new businesses as well as being driven by opportunities and resources in their institutional, economic, cultural, and social environment with no notable difference in motivational drivers between conflict-affected founders in an active conflict versus refuge context. This emphasises the positive potential outcomes of entrepreneurship in conflict and refuge and the need to comprehensively analyse entrepreneurship motivation outside of dichotomies and simple categorisations to allow for actionable recommendations.

Keywords: entrepreneurship motivation; eclectic theory of entrepreneurship; refugee entrepreneurship; entrepreneurship in conflict; self-determination theory; sustainable development; Syria; Germany.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2023.129291

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2023 Vol.48 No.3, pp.245 - 272

Received: 24 Apr 2019
Accepted: 19 Jan 2020
Published online: 06 Mar 2023 *

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