Changing Events – Stable Networks. Regime Turnovers, the “Great Trip” and the Life History of a Bulgarian-Turkish Entrepreneur
Changing Events – Stable Networks. Regime Turnovers, the “Great Trip” and the Life History of a Bulgarian-Turkish Entrepreneur

Summary/Abstract: Based on the case study of the career history of a Bulgarian-Turkish entrepreneur I elaborate on the idea that significant (macro-level) events such as governmental takeovers or migration do not influence the economic decisions of individuals on the micro-level. It is the social capital, embedded in networks of people, which provides direct access to economic resources. Social networks are of different types (kin or non-kin) with varying influence on an individual in different stages of his life course. The subject of this research, a man called Akhun, is a successful entrepreneur who was able to activate and manipulate (scarce) resources in different historical periods. He began his informal enterprise in the times of the communist regime. The enterprise started to suffer after the beginning of the “Revival Process” and later – in 1989 being part of what has been called the “Great Trip” – he was even forced to leave the country. However, he returned in 1990 and, based on his previous networks, started a new business. The enterprise, a family farm, successfully develops until today. Akhun’s story is to be seen as an example of post-socialist entrepreneurial development.

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