Entrepreneurship and Reflexivity

This book focuses on reflexivity as applied to entrepreneurship in the countries of the Global South. Specifically, reflexivity represents a sociological notion designed to explain the structures of human beliefs; however, its usefulness in business and entrepreneurial frameworks is a gap to be filled.

The incorporation of reflexivity into entrepreneurship studies provides an inclusive overview of the psychological aspects inherent to nascent entrepreneurs as well as their attitudes, thought processes, values, assumptions, prejudices, and habitual actions. 

Divided into sections on theory and practice, the text considers the fact that entrepreneurs in the Global South benefit from distinctive and diverse institutional peculiarities in contrast to the nations of the Northern Hemisphere. This group of particularities is strongly influenced by historical, political, cultural, and economic factors.  These factors have historical roots manifested in the role of government, the collaboration between companies and universities, the choice to use a language, the development of cultural heritage, and ethical values.  These combined factors and particularities have contributed to the presence of problems such as corruption, inequality, and political instability, as well as geopolitical challenges that are beginning to appear given the rise of international multipolarity.

In providing an overview of entrepreneurship that is divergent from the traditional Western approaches, this work offers new, more holistic perspectives that consider subjective contextual and social factors to understand the complexity inherent to entrepreneurship to analyze the realities of the Global South, therefore expanding the knowledge and opportunities that lie ahead. It will generate debate among researchers about how reflexivity can be effectively incorporated into the region’s entrepreneurial endeavors and public policies to optimize its social and economic contributions.

Oscar Javier Montiel Méndez is Professor of Management at the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Rosa Azalea Canales García is Professor at the Faculty of Economics of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México.

Anel Flores Novelo is Professor in the Faculty of Accounting and Administration at Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico.

R. Duncan M. Pelly is Cal Turner Endowed Chair of Business at Fisk University, USA.