Title: Mennonite communities in Belize

Authors: Carel Roessingh

Addresses: Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Culture, Organisation and Management, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelenlaan 1081, Room Z-240, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: This paper addresses the entrepreneurial activities within different Mennonite communities in Belize and the way religious differentiation plays a role in their entrepreneurship. In spite of the fact that most Mennonites live quite isolated from the wider society, building upon their Christian beliefs, agricultural skills and a strong working ethos, they have been able to establish a strong and stable economic position within Belize. The paper specifically focuses on the interplay between religious and entrepreneurial differentiation and the way this influences the progressiveness of different Mennonite communities.

Keywords: Belize; Mennonite identity; religion; entrepreneurship; community; differentiation; entrepreneurial activities; ethnic enclaves; globalisation; business.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2007.013722

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.107 - 124

Published online: 22 May 2007 *

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