Abstract
There is an increasing, but as yet small, body of literature which questions the validity of assuming universal truths in the field of entrepreneurship. Cross cultural studies are beginning to highlight national differences in the motivations of entrepreneurs and to identify the extent to which these are due to the very different environments in which they operate. Despite this, there continues to be an assumption that, whilst the people and the context may vary, the models of economic regeneration are universal. Nowhere is this dichotomy clearer than in the “third world.”
In the spirit of bringing this debate into the “mainstream literature,” I asked Malcolm Harper to write a piece on his view of Enterprise Development in Poorer Nations. Although based at Cranfield, Malcolm has spent the last 20 years working in developing countries helping to develop and implement new enterprise strategies. In his work he considers his general focus “[expost rationalised] is empowerment for disadvantaged through enterprise.” I hope that you find his views illuminating. If you do you can explore the issues further in a new journal he has recently launched, “Small Enterprise Development,” which concentrates upon this field.
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