When forced migrants go home: The journey of returnee entrepreneurs in the post-conflict economies of Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo

Author(s)
N. Williams, Maria Emmanouela Plakoyiannaki, B. Krasniqi
Abstract

This paper examines forced migrants who fled their homeland due to conflict and later returned to undertake entrepreneurial activity. Drawing on qualitative interviews with returnees to Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo, we contribute to the process-oriented view of entrepreneurship by showing how forced migration leads to historical bonds to the homeland which influence resultant entrepreneurial activity. We extend literature on institutional voids by demonstrating that they can be enabling, with formal voids substituted by informal networks. Returnees rely on informal ties due to mistrust of formal ties, and these are strengthened by shared experiences of conflict and lead to activities which satisfy non- monetary gains rather than profit.

Organisation(s)
Department of Marketing and International Business
External organisation(s)
University of Leeds, University of Prishtina
Journal
Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice
Volume
47
Pages
430-460
No. of pages
31
ISSN
1042-2587
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/10422587221082678
Publication date
2022
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
502054 Entrepreneurship, 502016 SME-research
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Economics and Econometrics, Business and International Management
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/when-forced-migrants-go-home-the-journey-of-returnee-entrepreneurs-in-the-postconflict-economies-of-bosnia--herzegovina-and-kosovo(ce7a846a-070b-4fa7-8f3e-03e9816220da).html