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Small and medium enterprises in Colombia’s journey to peace

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  • Andonova, Veneta
  • García, Juana
  • Rivas, Angela

Abstract

Private companies are expected to support the mitigation and prevention of conflict and to make significant contributions to peacebuilding in troubled parts of the world. These companies’ resources are diverse, as are their approaches to contributing to peace. Our research delves into peace studies, political science, and management literature to bring to the fore the theoretical frameworks that elucidate the role of different business organizations in peacebuilding, highlighting the contribution and strategies of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Utilizing multiple correspondence analysis on survey data collected from businesses following the peace agreement signed between the Colombian government and the FARC-EP in 2016, we show that large companies and SMEs differ in their expectations and initiatives for peace. We explore the impact of these differences regarding several dimensions of business engagement with peacebuilding, and we report survey results, provide stylized cases, and use prior theoretical and empirical research to offer insights to harness the potential of SMEs for peacebuilding.

Suggested Citation

  • Andonova, Veneta & García, Juana & Rivas, Angela, 2025. "Small and medium enterprises in Colombia’s journey to peace," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 397-411.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bushor:v:68:y:2025:i:4:p:397-411
    DOI: 10.1016/j.bushor.2025.02.012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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