Navigating liability of foreignness: analyzing immigrant entrepreneurship using Bourdieusian lens in V.S. Naipaul’s A Bend in the River

Abstract

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to highlight how fiction offers a rich context for analyzing the liability of foreignness (LOF), a concept extensively examined in international business literature. For this purpose, it focuses on a famous novel A Bend in the River written by V.S. Naipaul.

Design/methodology/approach The paper uses V.S. Naipaul’s novel A Bend in the River as a setting to analyze and highlight the experiences of immigrant entrepreneurs and strategies adopted by them to overcome the LOF. Using Bourdieu’s work on field, capital and habitus – this paper undertakes narrative analysis of the chosen novel to show how the immigrant entrepreneur (Salim) navigated individual, structural and contextual challenges linked to LOF.

Findings This study demonstrates how fiction can enrich the understanding of the complexities of LOF. An interesting finding relates the fact that in the novel immigrant entrepreneur is not able to fully overcome his outsider status and LOF despite having economic access, potential and aptitude to succeed as an entrepreneur. The findings also reveal the limitations of economic capital, and enhanced importance that cultural and symbolic capital play in constituting the experience of immigrant entrepreneurs.

Originality/value This paper is among the first to use fiction as a lens for studying LOF and immigrant entrepreneurship. By integrating narrative analysis of the chosen novel (A Bend in the River) with Bourdieu’s work on field, capital and habitus, this paper’s findings enrich theory development in relevant literature streams of immigrant entrepreneurship and LOF.