Centring Context within Discussions of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems from a Global Perspective

Abstract

Abstract In this chapter we consider the concept of context, as utilized by scholars in the entrepreneurship field, in relation to entrepreneurial ecosystems. We argue that the bulk of EE scholarship to date has assumed context or relegated it to a background discussion, instead of privileging the concept within studies of EEs. This has led to a lack of consideration of the institutions, resources and social backgrounds that surround the EE in its regional and national settings. In this chapter, we make an argument for centring the concept of context so that it is at the heart of our discussion and analysis. In particular, we elucidate some existing gaps within the body of work on EEs, which we argue are a result of a lack of context appreciation and analysis. We draw on work carried out on EEs in various international settings to highlight contextual aspects of EE functioning and actualization that emerge as key when we place context at the heart of our analysis.