engleski

New economic sociology and legitimation of entrepreneurship: the case of Croatia

This paper is based on two basic assumptions: a) that 'classical' economic sociology somehow neglected the problem of entrepreneurs' legitimacy in new democracies of Eastern Europe, and b) that Croatia can be viewed as a case - study for dealing with this important theoretical and empirical issue. A closer look at the world-known handbooks on economic sociology show us that the issue of the social legimitation of new managerial and entrepreneurial elite was not the issue of their research and theoretical interest. It is not surprise due to the fact that this issue is deeply linked with new Eastern Europe democracies and their modes of the development of capitalist institutions after the collapse of communism/socialism at the end of 1980's. Yet, we think that this problem is not only socially relevant for Central and Eastern European countries but also for the new economic sociology and for the perception of the emerging sociological problems and their treatment within new economic sociology. With regard to the Croatian situation, our main thesis suggests that the initial transitional legitimacy of Croatian entrepreneurship was primarily determined by the specific model, method and consequences of privatization of former social/state owned enterprises. The thesis is supported by empirical findings that show how entrepreneurs’ legitimacy, following some general rules of social perception, is basically rooted on some deeper socio-cultural values. Although intrinsically interdependent, in the public opinion the social (ethical) and the competence aspects of entrepreneurship are relatively separated: social aspects are more important and more visible, while the competence aspects become relevant only when their social consequences become severe and obvious. Looking from the broader perspective, the problems of social legitimation of entrepreneurship in the long-run determine the pace and nature of economic and social development, as well as the functioning of the basic economic institutions within particular countries.

New economic sociology, entrepreneurship, legitimacy, ethics, competence, social perception, Croatia

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