Original Research

A socio-cultural explanation of black entrepreneurship in South Africa

M. J. Co
South African Journal of Business Management | Vol 34, No 4 | a690 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v34i4.690 | © 2018 M. J. Co | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 12 October 2018 | Published: 31 December 2003

About the author(s)

M. J. Co, Division of Management, School of Economics and Management, University of Natal, South Africa

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Abstract

This article attempts to provide the reader an analysis of why entrepreneurship levels among indigenous Africans are low by specifically using socio-cultural theories. Traditional views of entrepreneurship have emphasised psychological and economic models. Although these views explain entrepreneurial activity, neither can explain it holistically. The sociocultural theoretical approach takes into account differences among societies and cultures in explaining entrepreneurial activity. The choice of this theoretical perspective and the specific theories highlighted is rationalised in the first section of this paper. The paper covers five main socio-cultural theories namely: Weber´s Protestant ethic, Hagen´s withdrawal of status, social mobility, marginality and role models. A model is then conceptualised, incorporating the different variables affecting entrepreneurship as identified from the above-mentioned theories and using the Black South Africans as a case illustration.

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Crossref Citations

1. Black entrepreneurship: a case study on entrepreneurial activities and ambitions in a South African township
Peter Preisendoerfer, Ansgar Bitz, Frans J. Bezuidenhout
Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy  vol: 8  issue: 3  first page: 162  year: 2014  
doi: 10.1108/JEC-02-2012-0020