Rethinking entrepreneurship: How collective business ventures rebuild war-torn communities

New research from the Alberta School of Business reveals a three-step process for healing social divisions in post-conflict zones through shared business ventures.

In the wake of the 2016 peace deal ending Colombia’s 50-year civil war, a difficult question remained: How do you rebuild trust between neighbours who were once enemies?

For decades, rural communities in Colombia were torn apart by conflict, leaving former FARC combatants and local farmers, known as campesinos, living in uneasy proximity. Physical violence may have ceased, but the country’s social fabric remained in tatters.

New research co-authored by Emily Block , George M. Cormie chair of management at the Alberta School of Business, points to a powerful answer. The study finds that social intermediaries — organizations that bridge gaps between groups — can successfully reintegrate fragmented communities by using collective entrepreneurship as a tool for peace.

The study outlines a three-stage process that moves communities from shared trauma to a shared future.

Getting "dirty boots"

The research team conducted an in-depth, eight-year case study of Paz Para Colombia, a peacebuilding non-governmental organization.

The researchers found that successful reintegration begins with a "dirty boots" approach. This first phase involves the intermediary immersing itself in the daily lives of community members — literally getting mud on their boots — to map local strengths and build authentic trust.

"We observe how the social intermediary adapts its approach to engaging with communities in each stage," Block said. "In this initial phase, the goal is to establish the organization as trusted common ground between the wary ex-combatants and farmers."

Emily Block, associate professor of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Management and the George Cormie Chair in Management at the Alberta School of Business, shares how business can solve “non-business” problems.

From accompaniment to independence

Once trust was established, the process moved to an "accompaniment" phase focused on collective entrepreneurship. Rather than encouraging individual businesses that can foster competition and rivalry, the NGO helped the groups co-create co-operative ventures.

By working together in shared spaces on shared business practices, the two groups began to recognize their interdependence. The research shows that this collaboration did more than generate income; it repaired social bonds. The daily reality of running interconnected ventures forced former adversaries to interact as partners, transforming them from a "community of circumstance" stuck together by fate into a "community of choice" united by common interests.

The final "distant friends" stage saw the intermediary step back. As the communities developed their own shared vision for the future, the NGO transitioned to an arm's-length support role, ensuring that both the businesses and the renewed social ties could sustain themselves independently.

Rethinking entrepreneurship

This research challenges the conventional Western view of entrepreneurship as an individual pursuit of profit. In post-conflict settings, business becomes a vehicle for social healing.

"We emphasize the transformative potential of collective entrepreneurial activities," Block said, "showing how entrepreneurship can provide a foundation for rebuilding social bonds among fragmented groups."

The findings offer a practical blueprint for policymakers and aid organizations working in conflict zones or areas of extreme poverty. The findings suggest that the path to peace isn’t only about treaties or aid packages — it’s about giving people a reason, and a way, to work together.

Key takeaways

• Entrepreneurship as peacebuilding: Collective business ventures can be a powerful tool for reintegrating post-conflict communities and repairing social bonds between former adversaries.

• The "dirty boots" model: Effective social intermediaries must first build deep trust by immersing themselves in the community’s daily reality before attempting to implement change.

• Three-stage process: Successful integration follows a path from "dirty boots" (building trust) to "accompaniment" (co-working and shared spaces) to "distant friends" (fostering independence).

• Collective vs. individual: In fragile environments, co-operative business models often outperform individual competition by fostering interdependence and shared interests.

• Beyond economics: The value of these ventures extends beyond financial profit; their primary success lies in transforming fragmented populations into cohesive "communities of choice."

Read Block’s full article in the Journal of Management Studies at DOI:10.1111/joms.13258

U of A research. Real-World impact.

A just society is key to peace and equality. See how the U of A is striving to achieve the UN's goal of justice by championing human rights, strengthening institutions and advancing the rule of law.

Explore Our Justice Work