Trust and Networking in Entrepreneurial Relations: A Cultural Perspective

The chapter focuses on the utility of the concepts of trust in understanding the relations among entrepreneurs. In this case, trust is viewed as social capital and functional for the day-to-day operations of entrepreneurs. It provides arguments that explore the contexts under which cooperation prevails in what one can call 'trustful conditions.' The chapter is based on a qualitative research, which utilized in-depth interviews, key informants, and direct observation. The target group is that of remittance transporters popularly known as malayisha (a Zulu concept derived from the bulkiness of the goods they ferry). The concept of trust and how it creates and sustains a culture of networking is explored particularly from classical views of scholars like Durkheim in which case it is likened to 'social facts.' The chapter further examines the utility of trust in institutional settings such as in families, friendships, and group alliances. The role of trust is viewed as inclusionary and exclusionary in networks. The chapter also highlights some of the challenges related to using the concept of trust in theory and practice.