Title: Prohibition and the American Dream: an analysis of the entrepreneurial life and times of Al Capone

Authors: Waata Hipango Jr.; Robert Smith; Léo-Paul Dana

Addresses: University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand ' Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, AB10 7QE, UK ' Montpellier Research in Management, Groupe Sup de Co Montpellier Business School, 2300 avenue des Moulins, Montpellier, France

Abstract: The iconic figure of Al Capone is arguably the most prominent figure of organised crime. Both biographers and scholars have analysed his life and behaviour. Hollywood has immortalised his character in film. Today, the name Capone remains synonymous with the word gangster. Although Capone owned businesses of a legitimate nature, illicit ventures and the spectre of the gangster-entrepreneur define his practice of entrepreneurship. In an attempt to understand Capone as an entrepreneur, this paper explores his entrepreneurial behaviour within an analysis of his resource profile, his Italian-American culture and the social context of the USA in the early 20th century.

Keywords: Al Capone; criminal entrepreneurship; gangsters; organised crime; Prohibition; American Dream; resource profile; culture; social context; USA; United States.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2014.057912

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2014 Vol.21 No.1, pp.1 - 15

Published online: 31 May 2014 *

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