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Argonauts and Icaruses: Social networks and dynamics of nascent international entrepreneurs

Author

Listed:
  • François Goxe

    (LAREQUOI - Laboratoire de recherche en Management - UVSQ - Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines)

  • Ulrike Mayrhofer

    (GRM - Groupe de Recherche en Management - EA 4711 - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur)

  • Olli Kuivalainen

    (LUT University School of Business and Management)

Abstract

Drawing on Bourdieu's theory of practice, we consider internationalization as a process of field crossing and apply this framework to nascent international entrepreneurs. The analysis of 37 interviews with French entrepreneurs, managers, and support providers in China allows identifying two types of international entrepreneurs: (1) "Fallen Icaruses", unable to incorporate and exhibit a global habitus and who fall back to the home field, and (2) "Global Argonauts", incorporating and exhibiting a global habitus and who proceed with internationalization. Our findings show that social networks can be hostile to newcomers and that incumbents in those networks first assess newcomers' "compatibility". We posit that the success of international initiatives by entrepreneurs depends on their ability to cross and fit into different "fields", and to develop various forms of social relationships in those fields.

Suggested Citation

  • François Goxe & Ulrike Mayrhofer & Olli Kuivalainen, 2022. "Argonauts and Icaruses: Social networks and dynamics of nascent international entrepreneurs," Post-Print halshs-03283056, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-03283056
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    Cited by:

    1. Maximilian Scheu & Andreas Kuckertz, 2023. "Explorers of the twenty-first century? A systematic literature review of the scholarship on international entrepreneurs from developed economies," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 177-235, March.
    2. Tsang, Eric W.K. & Colpan, Asli M., 2025. "Reconciling the tension between contextualization and generalization in qualitative international business research," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(2).
    3. Shahid, Pirzada Syed Rizwan, 2023. "Founder's Human Capital and the Entrepreneurial Process Duration," OSF Preprints yf6mg, Center for Open Science.
    4. Muhammad Anwar & Shaungjie Li & Ahmed Al-Omush & Munther Al-Nimer, 2023. "SMEs’ Internationalization: Mapping the Field through Finance, ITC, and Social Ties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, February.
    5. Langinier, Hélène & Pündrich, Aline Pereira & Ariss, Akram Al, 2024. "Understanding professional migrant women’s successful career progression within the Big Four in Luxembourg," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1).
    6. Magnani, Giovanna & Gioia, Denny, 2023. "Using the Gioia Methodology in international business and entrepreneurship research," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    7. Han, Xiaomin & Goxe, François & Freeman, Susan, 2024. "Internationalization through social networks: A systematic review and future research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(4).
    8. Leonidou, Leonidas C. & Aykol, Bilge & Nilssen, Frode & Christodoulides, Paul, 2025. "Power dynamics, cooperation, and performance in exporter-importer relationships: The moderating role of partner incompatibility and emotion regulation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4).

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