Entrepreneurship in response to natural disasters: the role of collective action in fostering social entrepreneurship

Purpose This research aims to examine how social entrepreneurs in disaster-affected regions mobilize collective action to support resilient recovery after crises. Using the case of the 2017 Kermanshah earthquake in Iran, this study highlights the emotional and cultural dynamics, most notably sympathy and homophily that foster collaboration and trust between entrepreneurs and local communities, helping to explain why engagement endures beyond the immediate emergency. Design/methodology/approach A participatory action research approach was adopted to involve earthquake survivors directly in a range of social innovation initiatives, such as housing reconstruction, job creation and psychosocial support. To increase the validity and reliability of the findings, data were collected through interviews, field observations and a review of existing documents and reports, and analyzed thematically with interpretive methods. Findings Results indicate that shared emotional experiences, particularly sympathy, were crucial in motivating both survivors and entrepreneurs to cooperate in recovery activities. Trust-building, local participation and culturally embedded practices emerged as critical drivers of success. This study shows that social entrepreneurs often act as emotional bridges, with their shared backgrounds and community ties enabling sustainable forms of collective action. Originality/value This paper advances research on crisis management and social entrepreneurship by introducing the idea of sympathy-enabled collective action. It brings attention to emotional capital, especially sympathy as a largely overlooked yet vital resource in disaster recovery. The insights generated are intended to guide policymakers, NGOs and social entrepreneurs working in fragile, resource-constrained environment.