Ideology and the subjectification of the entrepreneurial self. (3rd October 2005)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Styhre, Alexander
• Is Part Of: International journal of management concepts and philosophy. Volume 1:Number 2(2005)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 173
• Publication Date: 2005-10-03
• Subjects: entrepreneurship -- ideology -- ideological state apparatus -- subjectification -- management studies -- organisation theory; Management -- Periodicals; Management -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Management science -- Periodicals; 302.3505
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-1484

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is becoming one of the key concepts in management thinking and is treated as what is capable of dealing with a variety of social problems and managerial challenges. However, the idea of entrepreneurship is based on a series of ideological assumptions that are rarely addressed in (mainstream) entrepreneurship literature. This conceptual paper aims at exploring entrepreneurship as a form of subjectification embedded in a number of social institutions. The main reference in this undertaking is Althusser's writing on 'the ideological state apparatus' as what is providing meaningful and productive subject-positions in contemporary society. The paper concludes that a more self-reflexive view of entrepreneurship would enable for a more elaborated theory of the entrepreneur, moving beyond the one-sided enthusiasm for the concept at times displayed in the field.